Major Overhaul: UK Government Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings Following Education Sector Consultations and Tragic Incident

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools to be discontinued at once

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

Political journalist @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 8:

Ofsted's practice of assigning single-word ratings to public schools has been immediately discontinued, a decision praised as a significant milestone for students.

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

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new framework where four distinct grades will be assigned, encompassing the categories of quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Starting in September 2025, schools will issue report cards that offer parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and aim to enhance the effectiveness of inspections in promoting improvements, the announcement stated.

The alteration comes after consultations with educational stakeholders 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's inquest determined that the inspection process played a role in her demise.

The Department for Education stated that simplified, single phrase grades do not offer a fair and accurate evaluation of a school's overall performance, and the modification will assist in overcoming obstacles to opportunity.

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Speaking on Sky News’ “Breakfast with Kay Burley,” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced, "Today we are implementing changes as I think it's essential for parents to be better informed about the activities within our schools, because the current system is failing."

"The stakes are too high, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving quality in our educational institutions. This is crucial as I desire for every child to receive an excellent education and a solid foundation for their future."

The new Labour administration has made reform a key goal, committing to enhance public education quality and create extra revenue by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

In today's announcement, the government declared its focus on enhancing programs for schools that are underperforming, instead of simply shifting their management.

Starting in early 2025, specialized regional teams will be deployed to assist schools that are struggling, focusing on enhancing areas where they are underperforming.

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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) indicated that this might involve mandating an academy order, compelling state schools to convert into academies, potentially resulting in a change of management in certain cases.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is abundantly evident that we must reform Ofsted to ensure continuously high and improving standards for every child in every school."

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"Eliminating headline grades represents a major overhaul and a significant turning point for students, families, and educators."

She also mentioned that single headline grades offer "minimal information for parents and carry significant consequences for schools."

"Our report cards aim to give parents a more comprehensive and transparent view of school performance."

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

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Changes 'might be more extensive'

The news is being shared as students make their way back to school this week.

The elimination of individual headline grades will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, and it is anticipated that similar settings such as independent schools and colleges will adopt this change subsequently.

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Teaching unions have expressed their support for the plans, having advocated for changes for an extended period.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed satisfaction, stating, "We've consistently argued that reductive single-word evaluations are detrimental, and we're gratified that the government has acted quickly to eliminate them."

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Dr. Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT, commended the new government's decision but suggested they could do more by abandoning the misconception that turning into an academy is the sole way to enhance our schools.

"Today's announcements represent a positive move, yet without comprehensive reform to address the underlying issues of the faulty accountability system, teachers and school leaders will still be operating within a flawed framework," he stated.

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