Ofsted has postponed the start to its next initial teacher education (ITE) inspection cycle until the 2025/26 academic year, following a request by the Secretary of State for Education.
Ofsted was due to make updates to the existing ITE framework for the 2024/2025 academic year.
However, the Secretary of State has requested the postponement ahead of more substantive changes to the ITE inspection framework, including the introduction of report cards, due in September 2025.
A consultation on changes to inspections will take place in January next year. The postponement will ensure that all ITE providers in the next cycle are inspected under the same Ofsted framework.
Since the majority of ITE inspections take place in the spring and summer terms most inspection activity is expected to restart from January 2026.
Ofsted will carry out other quality-assurance activity, such as thematic monitoring visits, across the full ITE remit, alongside enhanced engagement with the sector during the consultation period. This will ensure that a focus on high-quality provision is maintained.
