Ofsted focus pupil groups
Updated
The Ofsted inspection framework, for use from November 2025, places increased focus on a number of different pupil groups. This is exemplified by the following:
Throughout the inspection, we give particular attention to the experiences and outcomes of disadvantaged pupils, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), pupils known or previously known to children’s social care and those who face other barriers to their learning and/or well-being. These groups are central to planning, inspection activity and evaluation.
From the Ofsted inspection toolkit (The Ofsted handbook contains similar passages.)
This guide details how to track these groups, in Insight.
Disadvantaged
Disadvantaged pupils are available via a standard filter in Insight. The definition follows that used by the DfE and in the Ofsted IDSR. The previous Ofsted handbook included a broader definition of disadvantaged, but this has been addressed in the new guidance. For more on the definition of Disadvantaged, see this blog post by James Pembroke.
Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (SEND)
Insight also has existing filters for pupils on different stages of SEND.
Pupils known or previously known to social care
Insight has an existing filter for Ever in Care (selectable in the Pupil Premium, FSM etc. filter sub-menu). This is synced from the MIS but, like other pupil details, may be manually overridden. Ever in Care pupils are those who are currently in care or previously in care.
Known or previously known to social care differs from ever in care and is not something that can be synchronised from the MIS. The phrase “known to social care” typically refers to a pupil who has had prior involvement with social services. It doesn’t necessarily mean they are currently receiving support, but that they’ve been identified, assessed, or supported at some point by a local authority’s social care team.
For these pupils, the best approach is to create a pupil group identifying them. The group can be maintained and amended as required.
Pupils who face other barriers to their learning and/or well-being
Ofsted guidance states:
We put children and learners who face barriers to their learning and/or well-being at the heart of what we do. This is our mission.
The language is intentionally broad and flexible, to allow schools to adapt it to local context and the individual pupil experiences in their setting.
For this reason, again, the best approach is to create a pupil group for these pupils; named according to your preference. Vulnerable Pupils could be a succinct title.
