In a move to modernize school inspections and increase transparency, Ofsted has officially launched new QR code badges for all education providers across England.

The initiative, announced this month by Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, aims to give parents "one-click" access to the full context of a school's performance, moving away from the era of schools highlighting only their best statistics.

Why the Change?

Historically, many schools would display a single-word judgement (such as "Outstanding") on banners and brochures. However, following the removal of overall headline grades in late 2024, Ofsted has shifted to a "report card" system.

The new QR codes are designed to solve a specific problem: "cherry-picking." Without a single grade to show, some schools might be tempted to quote only the most glowing sentences from a long report.

"The beauty of our new report cards is the clear picture they offer... without that blunt one-word judgement casting its shadow over the detail," said Sir Martyn Oliver.

How It Works for Parents

Parents and carers will begin seeing these official Ofsted-branded QR codes on school gates, newsletters, and websites.

• Instant Access: Scanning the code with a smartphone takes you directly to the school’s specific page on the Ofsted website.

• Full Context: Instead of a single grade, you’ll see the complete colour-coded report card, which breaks down performance across areas like leadership, quality of education, and pupil wellbeing.

• Mobile-Friendly: Ofsted data shows that nearly 75% of parents now access reports on mobile devices, making the QR system a natural evolution for the watchdog.

Guidelines for Schools

While schools are not legally "forced" to use the codes, Ofsted’s new guidance is firm: if a school chooses to publish any printed excerpts or grades from their report card, they should display the official QR code alongside them.

Schools can now download their unique badges in various sizes—ranging from small 20mm icons for letterheads to large 154mm versions for outdoor banners.