Poor student behaviour and worsening class attendance rates have been highlighted by Ofsted's outgoing boss, as she warned the relationship between families and schools was now "fractured".
The watchdog's annual report suggested the long-held social contract, where parents ensured their children were in class daily, had worsened since the pandemic and could take years to repair.
Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said some parents are "increasingly willing to challenge" school on their policies and rules, noting a "troubling shift in attitudes" in education since the pandemic.
The report, which looked at the state of education and social care in England in the 2022-23 academic year, highlighted the "stubborn problem" of absences and behaviour, and warned these trends are "likely to have a significant effect on children's progress and outcomes".
It is the first annual report to be published since the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in January, which has prompted repeated calls for Ofsted to revamp its school ratings system.
Ms Spielman acknowledged the "wave of publicly expressed discontent" in the annual report.
But, speaking to ITV News, she defended Ofsted's system of one-word judgements, saying inspectors do a "remarkable job".
