Anatomy of an
Outstanding School
We analysed 30,840 schools across England to find what separates Outstanding schools from the rest. Here's what the data reveals.
The headline numbers
Three statistics that capture the gap between Outstanding and Inadequate schools.
94%
Higher absence
in Inadequate schools
52.2x
vs 3.4 suspensions
per 100 pupils
22.9%
avg FSM rate
vs 43.2% in Inadequate
Behaviour & Attendance
The single biggest differentiator. Inadequate schools have dramatically higher absence, suspensions and exclusions - signals that compound over time.
Overall absence rate
Persistent absence (10%+ sessions missed)
Suspension rate (per 100 pupils)
Permanent exclusion rate (per 10,000)
Overall absence rate by rating
Suspension rate by rating
Deprivation & Demographics
Schools serving more deprived communities face tougher challenges. Outstanding schools have significantly lower free school meals rates on average - but this raises important questions about whether Ofsted adequately accounts for context.
Free school meals eligibility
English as additional language
Free school meals % by Ofsted rating
Staffing & Resources
Surprisingly, Inadequate schools actually receive more funding per pupil - because deprivation-weighted funding formulas direct more money to schools with higher needs. But teacher salaries and class sizes tell a different story.
Average teacher salary
Average class size
Funding per pupil
Unfilled school places
Avg teacher salary by rating
Avg class size by rating
Academic Performance
KS2 results show a clear gradient across all four Ofsted ratings. Outstanding schools achieve higher scores in every subject - though the gap is narrower than you might expect.
KS2 Reading by Ofsted rating
Where Do Pupils End Up?
Destination data shows the long-term impact of school quality. Outstanding school pupils are significantly more likely to progress to higher education.
Sustained education destination
Higher education (university)
Higher education progression by rating
What does the data tell us?
Attendance matters most
The strongest signal in the data is behaviour and attendance. Inadequate schools have 15.4x the suspension rate and 115% more persistent absence than Outstanding schools.
Deprivation is not destiny - but it matters
Outstanding schools have 22.9% FSM vs 43.2% in Inadequate schools. Context matters hugely, and the data suggests Ofsted ratings partly reflect the communities schools serve.
Money doesn't buy ratings
Inadequate schools actually receive more funding per pupil (£7518 vs £6073) because deprivation-weighted formulas direct more resources to schools with greater need. The challenge is how effectively that funding translates to outcomes.
Small class sizes correlate
Outstanding schools have an average class size of 19.6 vs 14.0 in Inadequate schools. Smaller groups mean more attention per child - and better outcomes.
Methodology
This analysis covers 30,840 open schools in England with current Ofsted ratings. Data sources include DfE school census, Ofsted inspection data, DfE performance tables, school workforce census, school funding allocations, pupil absence statistics, exclusion statistics, and destination measures.
All figures are averages across each Ofsted rating category. Absence data is from 2023/24. Performance data uses the most recent available year. Funding and workforce data reflect the latest published figures.
Correlation does not imply causation. Many factors influence school outcomes, and Ofsted ratings themselves are debated. This analysis presents the data transparently - interpretation is yours.