"to simply dismiss either the organisation as a whole or any individual report makes no sense," For the record, I'm not talking about the Heber report, I've not even read it, and am not particularly interested. I do however stick by my earlier statement about Ofsted, and I have my reasons which I think are valid, and they come from dealings with Ofsted (and no, I'm not grinding a personal axe). Basically they're a hugely powerful organisation that seems accountable to no one. (I know technically that isn't the case, but in real life...) "People think demographics matter more than teaching and it doesn't." Spot on, but it is also true to say that (I hate using this term) "middle class" parents are more likely to push / moan, and that is significant in the effect it has.