Summary
Ofsted report cards and DfE performance measures should be read together. Inspection evidence describes quality at a point in time, while performance data shows attainment, progress and trends. Neither should be treated as a single school quality score.
Definition
Ofsted report cards present inspection findings across evaluation areas rather than reducing a school to a single overall grade. They should be read alongside the full inspection narrative, safeguarding information and any follow up actions. Department for Education performance measures include indicators such as Attainment 8, Progress 8 and Key Stage measures, depending on phase. These measures need context, because cohort size, prior attainment, methodology changes and multi year trends can affect interpretation. For area comparison, combine inspection areas, DfE performance trends and practical admission likelihood rather than ranking schools by one headline number.