Major Overhaul: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings Following Tragic Catalyst and Sector Feedback

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools are to be discontinued effective immediately. This decision comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose suicide was linked to a recent Ofsted review.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 8:

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for public schools have been immediately discontinued, a decision celebrated as a "significant milestone for children."

In the past, the educational oversight body assigned one of four ratings to the schools it evaluated: outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate.

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

Starting in September 2025, school report cards will be implemented to offer parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and to enhance the effectiveness of inspections in promoting improvements, the statement said.

Following discussions with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who tragically ended her own life after her Caversham Primary School in Reading was demoted from "outstanding" to "inadequate" by an Ofsted report due to concerns about safeguarding, adjustments have been made.

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

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

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Speaking to Sky News on the 'Breakfast with Kay Burley' show, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, “We are initiating this change today as I am convinced that parents require more insights into the activities within our schools, and the current system simply does not function effectively."

"The stakes are too high, and there isn't a clear enough emphasis on improving our schools' standards. 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, committing to improve public education and increase financing by imposing a tax on fees from private schools.

In today's announcement, the government declared its focus on enhancing programs for schools deemed underperforming, opting for this approach instead of altering their management.

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

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In instances where schools receive the lowest possible rating, indicating significant issues, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) stated that measures might involve mandating a conversion to academy status for maintained schools, potentially leading to a shift to new management in certain cases.

Earlier, Ms. Phillipson remarked, "It's absolutely 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 significant overhaul and a pivotal point for students, parents, and educators."

She mentioned that simplistic grading systems provide minimal details for parents while carrying significant consequences for schools.

"Parents need a more comprehensive and transparent understanding of school performance, which is exactly what our report cards aim to deliver."

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

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Changes 'might be more extensive'

The news is being released as students head back to school this week.

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

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Teaching unions have expressed their approval 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, stated, "We have consistently emphasized that oversimplified single-word assessments are detrimental, 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, stated that although the current administration has made a wise choice, there's still room for them to completely dispel the myth that turning into an academy is the sole path to enhancing our schools.

"Although today's declarations mark a significant move towards improvement, without comprehensive and fundamental changes to repair the underlying issues of the flawed accountability system, teachers and school leaders will still operate within a defective framework," he stated.

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