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Ofsted Personal Development

Ofsted

Last refreshed 30 January 2026 16:42
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Ofsted Personal Development

Ofsted

Personal development rating from Ofsted inspection

Understanding Ofsted Personal Development

The Personal Development grade assesses how well the school develops students as individuals beyond academic achievement. This covers character, values, and preparation for life in modern Britain.

What Inspectors Assess

Character Development: - Does the school build resilience, confidence, and independence? - Are students developing as responsible citizens? - Do they understand right from wrong?

PSHE and RSE: - Is personal, social, health, and economic education effective? - Is relationships and sex education age-appropriate and comprehensive? - Do students understand healthy relationships?

Preparation for Life: - Are students prepared for life in modern Britain? - Do they understand and respect diversity? - Are fundamental British values promoted?

Enrichment: - Are there opportunities beyond the academic curriculum? - Do students access clubs, trips, and experiences? - Is careers guidance effective?

The Four Grades

  • Outstanding: Exceptional personal development provision
  • Good: Personal development is effective
  • Requires Improvement: Gaps in personal development provision
  • Inadequate: Significant weaknesses

Why This Matters

Education is more than exam results. Schools should develop: - Well-rounded individuals - Good citizens - Young people ready for adult life

For Parents

This grade indicates whether your child will: - Develop character and values - Be prepared for the wider world - Access enriching experiences - Receive good careers guidance

Technical Details

Column Name
ofsted_personal_development
Data Source
Ofsted

Coverage by School Phase

How many schools have data available for this field.

Primary
93% 16682 / 17910
Secondary
94% 1190 / 1263
Secondary with Sixth Form
97% 1972 / 2033
Sixth Form Only
90% 262 / 289
All-through
94% 253 / 269
Special
51% 1058 / 2059
Independent
0% 3 / 1724
Good (80%+)
Moderate (50-79%)
Poor (<50%)

This field does not contribute to the performance score calculation.

Value Distribution by School Phase

Distribution of categorical values across schools.

Primary (16682 schools, 5 values)

Outstanding
2,186 13.1%
Good
6,269 37.6%
Requires Improvement
331 2.0%
Inadequate
16 0.1%
9
7,880 47.2%

Secondary (1190 schools, 5 values)

Outstanding
125 10.5%
Good
554 46.6%
Requires Improvement
98 8.2%
Inadequate
11 0.9%
9
402 33.8%

Secondary with Sixth Form (1972 schools, 5 values)

Outstanding
374 19.0%
Good
802 40.7%
Requires Improvement
103 5.2%
Inadequate
13 0.7%
9
680 34.5%

Sixth Form Only (262 schools, 5 values)

Outstanding
95 36.3%
Good
128 48.9%
Requires Improvement
11 4.2%
-
18 6.9%
10 3.8%

All-through (253 schools, 5 values)

Outstanding
43 17.0%
Good
114 45.1%
Requires Improvement
13 5.1%
Inadequate
2 0.8%
9
81 32.0%

Special (1058 schools, 5 values)

Outstanding
158 14.9%
Good
217 20.5%
Requires Improvement
29 2.7%
Inadequate
19 1.8%
9
635 60.0%