Ofsted inspectors will not be carrying out remote inspections in the week commencing 8 March when schools return.

The remote monitoring inspections of schools graded “inadequate” or “requires improvement” began on 25 January.

These inspections have focused on how well pupils are being educated remotely, without a grade being awarded.

However, in guidance updated today, the inspectorate said: “We will pause our inspections of schools and colleges for the week beginning 8 March, while they are focused on reopening to all pupils.

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Ofsted ‘will carry out on-site inspections over immediate concerns’

“For the rest of the term, we will continue to carry out our monitoring inspections remotely by default. However, we will carry out on-site inspections if we have any immediate concerns - for example, about safeguarding or the leadership of a school.”

Ofsted’s routine graded inspections will remain suspended until the summer term, the Department for Education announced in December.

However, a recent Tes survey showed that 90 per cent of teachers were against the resumption of full school inspections in the summer.