Major Overhaul: Ofsted Scraps One-Word School Ratings Following Tragic Catalyst and Sector Consultation

Immediate removal of single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools

This decision comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose suicide was linked to an Ofsted review.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, at 8

Immediate discontinuation of one-word Ofsted evaluations for public schools marks a significant milestone for students, drawing widespread acclaim.

Before, the educational oversight body would assign one of four ratings to the schools it evaluated: excellent, satisfactory, needs improvement, or unsatisfactory.

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced that four grades will be assigned within the current sub-categories: quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Starting in September 2025, schools will begin issuing report cards to give parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and to enhance the effectiveness of inspections in promoting improvements, the statement explained.

The modification comes after discussions with educational authorities and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted evaluation that lowered her Caversham Primary School in Reading from "outstanding" to "inadequate" due to issues with safeguarding.

In 2022, a coroner determined that the inspection procedures played a role in her passing.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic, single phrase grades do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school's overall performance, and that this reform will assist in removing obstacles to opportunity.

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Speaking on Sky News’ “Breakfast with Kay Burley,” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced, "Today, we are implementing this change as I think it's important for parents to have greater insights into our schools, since the current system is simply not effective."

"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a precise emphasis on enhancing the quality of education in our schools. This is crucial as I desire every child to receive an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."

The new Labour administration has made reform a key objective, committing to improve public education quality and to increase funds by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

In today's announcement, the government declared its intention to focus on enhancement strategies for schools that are underperforming, opting for this approach instead of changing their leadership.

Starting in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be established to collaborate with schools that are struggling, aiming to improve areas where they are deficient.

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In situations where schools are found to be severely lacking, the government will maintain its policy of stepping in.

The Department for Education (DfE) stated that this process might entail issuing an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially resulting in a shift to new management in certain cases.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated: "It is abundantly evident that Ofsted reform is essential to achieve consistently high and improving standards for every child in every school."

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"Eliminating headline grades marks a significant generational change and a pivotal moment for students, parents, and educators."

She mentioned that simple headline grades provide minimal information for parents but carry significant consequences for schools.

"Parents should have access to a more comprehensive and transparent overview of school performance, which is exactly what our report cards aim to offer.

"The administration is committed to enhancing the effectiveness and transparency of inspections to foster betterment in schools. We pledged reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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Proposed changes 'might be more extensive'

The statement was made as students head back to school this week.

The elimination of solitary headline ratings will be implemented in public schools scheduled for evaluation this academic year, and it is anticipated that private schools and colleges will also adopt this change later on.

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Teaching unions have embraced the proposals, having advocated for changes for an extended period.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed satisfaction with the government's prompt decision to eliminate simplistic single-word evaluations, stating, "We have consistently maintained that such simplistic judgments are detrimental."

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Dr. Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new administration has made a correct choice, yet he emphasized that more could be done beyond just promoting the notion that becoming an academy is the sole way to enhance our schools.

"Today's developments are a positive move forward, but without comprehensive reform to address the core issues of the failing accountability system, teachers and school administrators will still be operating within a problematic framework," he stated.

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