If a state school is judged inadequate by Ofsted, what must happen?

• A. It must become an academy.
• B. It must close permanently.
• C. It must become a free school.
• D. It must return to local authority control.

Answer: (A)

When Ofsted calls a state school inadequate, the system aims for swift improvement. The standard route is to convert the school into an academy, with a sponsor brought in to lead the changes. This shift moves the school away from local authority control and gives it new leadership, autonomy, and support to raise standards. The other possibilities aren’t the mandated response: closing the school, turning it into a free school, or returning it to local authority control aren’t the automatic requirements in this situation. The academy path is the typical mechanism government uses to drive improvement in underperforming schools.