Major Overhaul: UK Government Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings, Introduces Detailed School Report Cards

Single-word school ratings by Ofsted to be discontinued at once

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

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

In an immediate and significant change, the practice of assigning single-word Ofsted ratings to public schools has been eliminated, a decision praised as a pivotal development for students.

Before, the educational oversight body used to assign one of four possible ratings to schools it evaluated: outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate.

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new four-grade evaluation system that will be applied across various sub-categories including quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Beginning in September 2025, school report cards will be rolled out, offering parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and enhancing the impact of inspections on fostering improvements, according to the announcement.

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

In 2022, an inquiry by the coroner determined that the inspection procedures played a role in her demise.

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 the adjustment will assist in "eliminating obstacles to opportunity."

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During an appearance on Sky News' Breakfast with Kay Burley, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "Today, we are implementing this change as I think it's essential for parents to have greater insight into what is happening in our schools, since the current system is failing."

"The risks are too great, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving our schools' quality. This is crucial because I desire for every child to receive an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."

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

In today's announcement, the government declared its intention to focus on enhancing underperforming schools through improvement initiatives, moving away from strategies that involve altering their management.

Starting in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be deployed to assist schools that are struggling, focusing on improving their areas of deficiency.

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In instances where schools are deemed severely deficient, receiving an inadequate rating, the government will persist in taking action.

The Department for Education (DfE) stated that this process might involve implementing an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially under new management in certain cases.

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

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"Eliminating headline grades represents a pivotal change and a significant milestone for students, parents, and educators."

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

"Parents should have access to a more detailed, comprehensive understanding of school performance, and our report cards are designed to offer just that."

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

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"Changes might be more extensive"

The news was released as students make their way back to school this week.

The elimination of standalone headline grades will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection during this academic year, with plans to extend this change to other institutions such as independent schools and colleges in the future.

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Teaching unions have expressed support for the plans, which they have been advocating for as necessary reforms for some time.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed approval, stating: "We have consistently argued that simple, single-word evaluations are damaging, and we are gratified that the government has acted quickly to eliminate them."

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Dr. Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new government has taken a commendable step, but he emphasized that they could extend their efforts beyond the misconception that turning schools into academies is the sole path to enhancing our educational system.

"Today's declarations mark a significant move forward, yet without comprehensive and fundamental changes to repair the core of the flawed accountability system, educators and school administrators will still be operating within an imperfect framework," he stated.

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