On 14 October 2008, the Secretary of State announced his intention to improve how schools� performance is reported to parents, communities and other stakeholders, providing clear and comprehensive information in a new School Report Card.

The Report Card will provide a clearer, more balanced and comprehensive account of each school�s performance and will complement rather than compete with Ofsted inspection reports and form the core of the process by which Ofsted selects schools for inspection.

This consultation document stresses the need for clarity within the accountability of schools � about what is expected of them, how they will be held to account, and by whom � so that parents, government and schools themselves are clear about how well schools are performing and what happens if their performance is excellent or poor.

Visit DCSF's website to respond to the consultation.