Small schools want clarity on how new Ofsted inspections will be adapted for their 鈥渦nique鈥 circumstances amid concerns they will continue to place 鈥渦nrealistic鈥 demands on leaders. The watchdog has ditched deep dives from its new report card inspections, admitting they were 鈥渕ore challenging鈥 in small schools, which were more likely to get lower grades. Ofsted has also said its new framework will consider context and ensure inspections are tailored to each school, when they are rolled out next month. But inspectors will now conduct three learning walks on the first day of inspections and hold at least five 鈥渞eflection meetings鈥 with leaders across two days. They should also meet 鈥渁 group of staff鈥 including the SENCo and safeguarding lead. 鈥楾he final straw鈥 Former HM inspectors Adrian Gray, Frank Norris and Professor Colin Richards said this 鈥渕akes little allowance鈥 for senior staff who teach and fails to explain 鈥渨hat special arrangements have been made鈥 to help small schools manage inspection pressures. They added that the 鈥渉eavy emphasis鈥 on leadership meetings and multiple learning walks 鈥渋n a small village school with only one or two classes鈥 is totally impractical鈥. Frank Norris Ofsted鈥檚 website explains in detail how inspections are adapted for small schools under the current framework, but this guidance has not been updated for new inspections. Norris said the watchdog 鈥渕ust publish specific guidance for the leaders of small schools and inspectors 鈥 so that the requirements are manageable, and avoid additional stress caused by unrealistic expectations鈥. More than 2,100 schools in England have 100 pupils or fewer, Department for Education data suggests. In many, the headteacher can have several other school roles. Julie Kelly, chair of the (NASS), described the new inspections as 鈥渧ery exposing鈥 and high stakes for schools with few staff. Analysis by Gray last year found that large primary schools were nine times more likely to be awarded 鈥榦utstanding鈥 than those with fewer than 100 pupils. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to come back more on the headteacher 鈥 they will be doing everything,鈥 Kelly added. Norris suggested the new proposals 鈥渨ill make it even more challenging鈥 and 鈥渃ould be the final straw for some鈥. 鈥楳ore context than ever鈥 Ofsted said its framework 鈥渢akes more account of a school鈥檚 context than ever before鈥. Inspection formats 鈥渨ill be adapted to reflect each setting鈥檚 size, type and unique circumstances 鈥 as set out in the toolkits鈥, a spokesperson added. 鈥淲e are confident that small schools will see the benefits of this change when we begin inspecting next month.鈥 Small schools are mentioned once in Ofsted鈥檚 inspectors鈥 operating guide. It says inspectors must 鈥渂ear in mind that, in smaller schools, one leader may be responsible for many different areas. Discuss with leaders who would be the most appropriate person for an inspector to talk with, and their availability.鈥 Elsewhere, it says inspectors should 鈥渁dapt activities to the school鈥檚 context鈥 throughout an inspection. Nominee 鈥榗hallenge鈥 Under the new proposals, schools will be invited to select a senior staff 鈥渘ominee鈥 to support the inspection and attend meetings. This is optional. But Emma Bone, deputy CEO of Learning Academy Partnership (LAP) ,which runs 18 primaries in Devon, said this 鈥渃ould be challenging鈥 for small schools. 鈥溾橣or small, maintained schools, that capacity may just not be there. In such schools, headteachers are often also class teachers, which may make managing two inspectors, while handling day-to-day classroom responsibilities, quite demanding.鈥 Under the new framework, a third inspector will also attend on the first day. Ian Hartwright, head of policy at school leaders鈥 union NAHT, said a third inspector will 鈥渓ikely add to the stress on leaders and staff鈥 in these schools. However, Dan Morrow, CEO of Cornwall Education Learning Trust (CELT), said being in a trust could provide a 鈥減rotective factor鈥 to some of those issues. Debbie Thomas 鈥淚 have no idea how standalone [small] schools would be able to undertake this 鈥 I can see it being exceptionally challenging,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just the headteacher who’s got responsibility in inspection 鈥 it’s the whole of leadership and governance.鈥 Debbie Thomas, director of primary education at Consortium Trust, said the MAT structure makes securing a nominee 鈥渕anageable鈥. But Kelly said some small rural schools are not in trusts for reasons of geography. Some are in federations, and she stressed inspectors 鈥渘eed to be able to understand鈥 this structure too. 鈥楿nique鈥 context A key principle will be that those inspecting small schools should have relevant, Kelly added. 鈥淭hey’ve got to be really aware and adapt the activities to reduce the disruption, else they’re going to overburden staff.鈥 Yet inspections are often led by inspectors from large trusts or secondaries, who are 鈥渂lind to the context鈥 and 鈥渇ind it difficult to get their heads around鈥 the difference. New inspections will be led only by experienced HMIs, and Ofsted has pledged to match inspectors with settings in which they have experience. But Paul Rickeard, CEO of Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust (DNDLT), said it is unclear 鈥渉ow many of them have鈥 experience of tiny rural schools鈥. As of August 2024, Ofsted had 350 schools HMIs. Analysis of 鈥減en portraits鈥 on its website suggests only eight have direct experience of small schools. However, these portraits offer only a snapshot of inspectors鈥 backgrounds.