What is Ofsted Parent View?

Ofsted Parent View is a free online survey that gives parents and carers a direct channel to share their views about their child's school. Inspectors read the responses before and during inspections, and the results are published publicly. It is one of the few places where a parent's opinion can directly influence what Ofsted pays attention to when it next visits a school.

This guide explains what Parent View is, how to use it, what the questions are, and how much weight you should give to the results when researching schools.

What is Ofsted Parent View?

Parent View (parentview.ofsted.gov.uk) is an online platform run by Ofsted - His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills. It allows parents and carers of children in state-funded schools in England to submit their views about any school at any time, not just during inspections.

The survey has been running since 2012 and contains responses for the vast majority of state schools. You do not need to wait for an inspection to be announced - you can submit a response whenever you like, and your response remains on the system until Ofsted's next inspection of that school.

You need to create a free account with a valid email address to submit a response. Ofsted uses this to prevent duplicate submissions.

What Questions Does Parent View Ask?

The survey asks 12 questions, each answered on a five-point scale: strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, strongly disagree. There is also a free-text box at the end for any additional comments.

The 12 questions cover:

1. My child is happy at this school.
2. My child feels safe at this school.
3. The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.
4. My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively. (If your child has not been bullied, you are asked to select "does not apply".)
5. The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.
6. When I have raised concerns with the school, they have been dealt with properly. (If you have not raised concerns, you can select "does not apply".)
7. My child does well at this school.
8. The school lets me know how my child is doing.
9. There is a good range of subjects and activities at this school.
10. The school prepares my child well for the future.
11. The school is well led and managed.
12. I would recommend this school to another parent.

The final question - I would recommend this school to another parent - is the headline figure that most people focus on. It is expressed as a percentage of positive responses and is displayed prominently on Ofsted's website and on school profile pages.

How Does Ofsted Use Parent View Data?

Ofsted uses Parent View responses in two ways: before an inspection begins, and during the inspection itself.

Before the Inspection

When Ofsted schedules an inspection (typically with one working day's notice for standard inspections), the lead inspector reviews the Parent View data for that school. They look at the overall pattern of responses, the percentage recommending the school, and - crucially - any free-text comments. Comments about safeguarding, bullying, or weak leadership will flag up areas for inspectors to probe.

If there are very few responses, inspectors will note that they have limited parent view data and may give more weight to their on-site conversations with parents, which typically happen at the school gate on the first morning of an inspection.

During the Inspection

Inspectors may ask school leaders directly about themes that emerged in Parent View responses. If a significant proportion of parents say their concerns are not dealt with properly, inspectors will want to see evidence of how the school handles complaints. If many parents say pupils are not well behaved, inspectors will pay close attention to behaviour during their school visit.

Ofsted also sends a text message or email invitation to parents when an inspection is announced, asking them to complete Parent View if they have not already done so. This can produce a surge of responses immediately before an inspection.

Why Does It Matter?

Parent View matters for two reasons. First, it gives you a voice. If you have a genuine concern about your child's school - particularly about safety, bullying, or leadership - submitting a response ensures that Ofsted is aware of it when they next inspect. The free-text comments section is particularly valuable for specific concerns that the 12 questions do not capture.

Second, it is one of the data sources available when you are researching a school. A school where 95% of parents say they would recommend it is a different signal from one where only 60% would - though, as with all survey data, you should treat this alongside other evidence.

Can You Trust the Results?

Parent View results are useful but imperfect. Several factors affect how much weight you should give them.

Sample Size

Response rates vary enormously. A small primary school might have 15 responses; a large secondary might have 400. Where there are very few responses, a handful of unhappy parents can skew the results significantly. Always check how many responses underpin the percentages you are reading.

Response Bias

Parents are more likely to submit a response when they have a strong opinion - positive or negative. Parents who are broadly content but have no particular axe to grind often do not bother. This can produce a bimodal distribution in the free-text comments even when the quantitative results look healthy.

Schools Can Encourage Responses

Schools are permitted to encourage parents to complete Parent View - some do so systematically, sending out reminders in newsletters before an inspection is due. This is not manipulation, but it does mean that schools with engaged, proactive communications tend to have more responses and, often, more positive results simply because the most engaged parents tend to be the most satisfied.

Timing

All responses since the school's last inspection are shown. If a school went through a difficult period two years ago under previous leadership and has since improved dramatically, old responses might not reflect the current reality. Look at the date range of responses as well as the headline percentage.

How to Submit a Response

1. Go to parentview.ofsted.gov.uk
2. Create a free account or log in.
3. Search for your child's school by name or postcode.
4. Complete the 12-question survey. It takes about three minutes.
5. Optionally add a free-text comment.
6. Submit. You will receive a confirmation email.

You can update your response at any time if your views change. Once the school has its next inspection, old responses are archived and the survey resets.

Parent View and School Signal

School Signal shows Ofsted data - including overall ratings and inspection dates - on every school profile page. To see the full Parent View results for a school, follow the link to Ofsted's website from the school's profile. Understanding what the Ofsted rating categories mean is a useful companion to reading Parent View data - see our article on Ofsted inspections for more context.

Parent View is one piece of the puzzle. Use it alongside inspection reports, results data, and your own visit to the school to build an informed picture before making decisions about your child's education.