Major Overhaul: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings in Education Reform Sparked by Tragic Loss

Immediate discontinuation of single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools

This adjustment is in response to consultations with educational stakeholders and discussions with the relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose suicide followed an Ofsted review.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

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

Before, the academic oversight body assigned one of four ratings to the schools it reviewed: excellent, satisfactory, needs betterment, and unsatisfactory.

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new grading system that will evaluate four key areas: quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Starting in September 2025, new school report cards will be rolled out, offering parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and enhancing the impact of inspections on fostering progress, the announcement stated.

The decision 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 inquiry 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 or precise evaluation of a school's overall performance. They noted that this modification will aid in dismantling obstacles to opportunity.

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On Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley," Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "We are implementing this reform today as I think it's essential for parents to have a better understanding of what is happening in our schools since the current system is failing."

"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving our schools' quality. This is crucial because I am committed to ensuring that every child receives an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."

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

In today's announcement, the government revealed that it will focus on enhancing the programs at schools that are underperforming, instead of just changing the leadership.

Beginning in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be deployed to collaborate with schools that are struggling, aiming to improve areas where they are falling short.

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In situations where schools would have received an inadequate rating, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that one option might be to issue an academy order. This directive compels maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially leading to a change in management in certain cases.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated: "It is abundantly apparent that we must reform Ofsted to ensure continuously high and improving standards for every child in all schools."

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"Eliminating top-level scores marks a significant transformation and a pivotal moment for students, parents, and educators."

She also mentioned that grades that summarize performance in one headline are "limited in detail for parents and carry significant consequences for schools."

Parents require a more comprehensive and transparent understanding of school performance, and that is exactly what our report cards aim to offer.

"This administration is committed to enhancing the role of inspections, making them both a stronger and more open force for advancing school progress. We pledged transformation, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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Changes 'might extend beyond current scope'

The news breaks as students head back to school this week.

Single headline grades will be eliminated for state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, with plans for similar changes to be implemented in independent schools and colleges thereafter.

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Teaching unions have expressed support for the plans, having advocated for changes for a considerable time.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, stated, "We have consistently emphasized that straightforward, single-word evaluations can be damaging, and we are gratified that the government has acted quickly to eliminate them."

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Dr. Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new government has taken a correct step, but he emphasized that they could extend their efforts beyond the belief that turning into an academy is the sole way to enhance our schools.

"Today's announcements mark a positive move forward, but without comprehensive reform to address the fundamental issues of the flawed accountability system, teachers and school leaders will still be operating within a defective framework," he stated.

Tune in to The Politics Hub on Sky News tonight at 7pm.

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