Ofsted thinks pupils often are not told about inspection outcomes

The reports will be a feature of new shorter but tougher inspections in England from next September.

Head teachers' leader David Hart argued that giving pupils "ammunition" in the form of criticisms of their teachers could pose a threat to discipline.

And the NASUWT classroom union said it would allow disruptive pupils to pressurise "beleaguered" teachers.

In future inspections will be usually every three years, or more often if a school is struggling.

The inspections will be shorter than now, taking at most two days, with a greater emphasis on schools' self-evaluations.

Concerns

The key points in self-evaluation are: how well are we doing and how can we do better?

There will also be short notice of inspections to avoid the situation where schools do what Ofsted insists is too much preparation.

Where schools are deemed to be causing concern they will be put into one of two categories: "requiring special measures" - the same as now - or the less serious "requiring a notice to improve".

Reports

Inspectors' judgements of a school will be graded from 1 to 4 for outstanding, good, satisfactory or inadequate.

This new system of inspection is explicitly about 'raising the bar' of expected performance Ofsted chief, David Bell

Pupils and parents' views will have been sought through questionnaires.

The chief inspector, David Bell, said parents remained the main audience for reports but a brief letter to pupils should be provided, "written in language that is accessible to the pupils".

I must say I think the chief inspector has gone off the rails on this one David Hart National Association of Head Teachers

Shadow education secretary Tim Collins said: "If this is a gimmick then it is a particularly unpleasant gimmick that will not only increase bureaucracy and paperwork but also make teachers vulnerable to malicious complaints from pupils looking to cause trouble."

But Mr Bell added: "Including a letter to pupils in inspection reports in the future is no gimmick, but a response to the fact that pupils are surrounded by intense activity during inspections but are often never told, in language they understand, what the outcome is."

But the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, David Hart, said arming pupils with comments criticising teachers could worsen any discipline problems.

"I must say I think the chief inspector has gone off the rails on this one," he said.

Schools are rife with pupils who know their rights but not their responsibilities Chris Keates, NASUWT

Chris Keates, leader of the NASUWT, said pupils were entitled to have a chance to express their views and to be aware of developments.

But schools already did this through their routine working practices such as individual pupil reviews, mentoring sessions and parental consultations.

Ofsted should check this was done, not issue "simplistic and totally inappropriate questionnaires and letters which are open to misuse and abuse".

She added: "Schools are rife with pupils who know their rights but not their responsibilities. All too frequently pupils threaten to report teachers who challenge their inappropriate behaviour. "These letters and questionnaires will tilt even further the balance from teacher to pupil."