Stopping or preventing school inspections in England would be against "children's best interests", the chief inspector of Ofsted has said.
Amanda Spielman said they played an important role for schools and parents.
Unions have called for them to be paused, after head teacher Ruth Perry took her own life while waiting for a report that downgraded her school.
The government says Ofsted has a crucial role to play in upholding education standards.
Ms Spielman said the debate about reforming inspections to remove grades is a "legitimate one", but added that "any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs both of parents and of government".
Under the current system, schools are rated outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate after an inspection in England.
