Using a single "trigger" point to indicate when struggling schools in England require intervention would help to create a more simple system, the education secretary has said.
Damian Hinds will tell head teachers there are too many confusing ways for schools to be judged as underachieving.
There would also be fewer ways for schools to be made to become academies.
This "clarity" over expected standards was "just what we've been calling for", said heads' leader Paul Whiteman.
At the moment, as well as Ofsted inspections, there are classifications of so-called "coasting" schools and those that fall below minimum targets for exam results.
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'Real confusion'
In a speech to the National Association of Head Teachers, Mr Hinds will announce a consultation on a new, simplified system for identifying when schools are judged as underperforming.
Mr Hinds will tell head teachers there is a "real confusion" over this and school leaders need a much more transparent system.
This will have implications for turning schools into academies when they are judged to be failing - with the education secretary saying this will happen in future only after a ruling from inspectors.
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