Politics
Major Overhaul: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings Following Education Sector Review and Tragic Incident
Immediate removal of single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools
This adjustment comes after consultations with educational professionals and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose suicide was linked to an Ofsted review.
Political journalist @fayebrownSky
Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:
Ofsted's practice of issuing single-word ratings for public schools is being discontinued immediately, a change celebrated as a significant milestone for children's welfare.
Before, the educational oversight agency rated schools they evaluated with one of four designations: outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate.
Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new grading system that will apply to four distinct areas: quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Starting in September 2025, schools will begin issuing report cards that offer parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and aim to enhance the effectiveness of inspections in promoting advancements, the statement explained.
The decision was made after consultations with educational stakeholders and the family 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 related to safeguarding.
In 2022, a coroner's investigation 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. They believe that this reform will aid in eliminating obstacles to opportunities.
Further Details on Bridget Phillipson
Starting next week, free childcare for children as young as nine months will be introduced, although the implementation may face some hurdles.
Education secretary cautions that parents might not secure their preferred spots in free childcare programs.
Students will learn to identify false information and harmful conspiracy theories on the internet following recent unrest.
Under Discussion:
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 the activities within our schools, since the current system is failing to deliver that."
"The stakes are too high, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving our schools' quality. This is crucial because I want 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 improve public education and increase funding 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, moving away from strategies that involve altering leadership.
Beginning in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be deployed to assist schools that are struggling, focusing on improving their areas of deficiency.
For an enhanced video viewing experience, it is recommended to use the Chrome browser
In instances where schools are identified as performing extremely poorly, receiving an inadequate rating, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.
The Department for Education (DfE) stated that this may involve implementing an academy order that compels maintained schools to convert into academies, potentially placing them under new management in certain cases.
Earlier, Ms. Phillipson remarked, "It is absolutely evident that we need Ofsted reforms to ensure continuously high and improving standards for every child in every school."
Stay ahead with the latest Breaking News
Download the Sky News application at no cost
Discover further coverage at Sky News: Adele plans an extended hiatus from her musical career. Also, find out how a terrorist organization associated with a scheme at a Taylor Swift concert is expanding its reach.
"Eliminating headline grades represents a significant overhaul and a pivotal moment for students, parents, and educators."
She mentioned that simple headline grades offer minimal information for parents and carry significant consequences for schools.
"Parents need a more comprehensive and transparent 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 better outcomes in schools. We pledged to bring about reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."
For an improved video viewing experience, it's recommended to utilize Google Chrome as
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 affect state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, with plans for similar changes at independent schools and colleges anticipated to occur subsequently.
Stay updated with the most recent developments both in the UK and internationally by tuning into Sky News.
Educational unions have expressed their support for the proposals, having advocated for changes for an extended period.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed approval, stating, "We have consistently stated that simplistic single-word evaluations are damaging, and we are gratified that the government has acted quickly to eliminate them."
👉 Click here to subscribe to the Sky News Daily podcast for a 20-minute daily rundown of the top stories 👈
Dr. Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new government has made a commendable decision, but he emphasized that more could be done beyond merely promoting academy conversion as the sole method for achieving the necessary enhancements in our schools.
"Today's updates mark significant progress, yet without comprehensive and fundamental reforms to mend the underlying issues of the flawed accountability system, educators and school administrators will still be operating within an imperfect framework," he stated.
Tune into The Politics Hub on Sky News tonight at 7pm.
Associated Subjects
Footer for Sky News
Information About Sky News
Services Provided by Sky News
Sky Network Channels
Additional Sky Websites
Discover more from Automobilnews News - The first AI News Portal world wide
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.