Almost two dozen “outstanding” Northumberland schools are set to face inspectors for the first time since controversial exemptions were axed.

From September, Ofsted will resume inspecting schools across the country and for the first time in almost a decade, those deemed outstanding will also face compulsory routine visits.

Figures from the education watchdog, covering 153 of Northumberland’s primary and secondary schools, show that 21 received an outstanding rating the last time they were inspected.

Under rules introduced in 2012, those schools became exempt from being routinely reinspected and only faced scrutiny if concerns were raised about their performance.

The exemptions were introduced by the then Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government to give outstanding schools more freedom.

But the guidelines mean many schools across England have gone years without being visited by inspectors as a result.

According to the latest Ofsted figures, the outstanding educational facilities in Northumberland include 20 primary schools and one secondary school.

The coronavirus pandemic saw the organisation suspend all routine inspections, but in line with the lifting of restrictions across the country, inspectors will begin their visits again in September.

The move to remove exemptions for outstanding schools, announced by the Department for Education in October, was welcomed by the Association of School and College Leaders, while the National Education Union said outstanding schools should never have been treated differently.

Steve Bird, of the Northumberland Federation of teaching union NASUWT, said: "NASUWT believe that as schools are accountable to the public purse, it is only right they are subject to regular inspection. This is regardless of any historical category, or label awarded by a previous Ofsted team.

"In my experience, colleagues do not necessarily have an issue with being inspected by Ofsted or even the frequency of these inspections, the issues arise when some school leaders misinterpret the framework and guidance, leading to a massive increase in testing for pupils and workload for teachers.

"Education is all about getting children to engage in learning, it is not about collecting evidence just in case Ofsted should arrive.

"As an experienced teacher, I know that the very best schools don’t necessarily have an Ofsted 'Outstanding’ badge, but what they do have is an ethos of caring, nurturing and an awareness of the wellbeing of not only the pupils, but also their staff."

A parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “For many parents, the Ofsted rating of their chosen school is a major consideration. However if inspectors have not visited the school for a decade, it begs the question of whether that still reflects the school today.

"I think lots of parents would be shocked to learn their outstanding school has not been inspected for so long - surely all schools must stand up to regular scrutiny, however they are rated?”

Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, said: “We had long called for the exemption for outstanding schools to be lifted.

“This change will reassure parents and ensure that the outstanding judgement itself remains a genuine beacon of excellence.”

All formerly exempt schools must be inspected within the next five years and Ofsted will prioritise schools that have gone the longest without an inspection.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said the inspections would help to drive up standards, increase parent choice and contribute to the building of a stronger school system that can better serve pupils and their families.

But Dr Mary Bousted from the NEU warned that the relaunch of inspections coupled with the on-going pandemic could cause disruption at a time when “the priority of leaders, staff and pupils must surely be education recovery.”

She said: “This work is immediately diminished by inspections which are always disruptive, causing enormous stress on beleaguered staff and taking time away from what really matters.”