Ofsted school inspections will not begin again until January, new guidance published today confirms.

But the Department for Education has not so far heeded heads’ calls to suspend performance tables for a further year in 2020-21.

Instead of routine school inspections next term Ofsted is to send inspectors to “visit a sample of schools to discuss how they are managing the return to education of all their pupils”.

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“These will be collaborative discussions, taking into account the curriculum and remote education expectations set out in this document, and will not result in a judgement,” the DfE guidance says.

“A brief letter will be published following the visit. The insights that inspectors gather will also be aggregated nationally to share learning with the sector, the government and the wider public. In addition, Ofsted has the power to inspect a school in response to any significant concerns, such as safeguarding.”

But the government has not said it will suspend performance tables for the 2020-21 academic year, with head teachers saying they are “extremely disappointed” by the news.

In the new guidance for the full reopening of schools in September published today, the government reiterates  the suspension of league tables for the 2019-2020 academic year, but makes no such promise for next year.

“Performance tables are suspended for the 2019 to 2020 academic year, and no school or college will be judged on data based on exams and assessments from 2020,” the guidance says.

“Until the new data release is available, all those working with schools, including Ofsted and DfE regional teams, should refer to the 2019 data. The Department for Education will continue to use 2019 data as a starting point for any conversation about support for schools with Ofsted judgements below good.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:  “We are pleased the government has agreed with the need to suspend routine Ofsted inspections for the autumn term, but extremely disappointed there is no commitment to suspending school performance tables next year.

“Schools must be able to focus on supporting the learning and wellbeing of pupils following a time of great disruption, and bearing in mind the possibility of continued partial or full shutdowns in response to outbreaks.

“Given the very different circumstances schools and pupils are facing, school performance tables are meaningless and counterproductive, and they should be suspended in 2021.”

For independent schools, Ofsted and Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) standard inspections will also remain suspended next term.

“During the autumn term, Ofsted/ISI will undertake non-routine inspections, as commissioned by the Department for Education, where appropriate,” the guidance adds. “For example, this may be a pre-registration inspection or an inspection to follow up on significant safeguarding concerns. These inspections will have a judgement, as usual, and result in the production of a report.”

It is intended that routine Ofsted and ISI inspections will restart from January 2021, with the exact timing being kept under review.