Politics
Major Overhaul: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings, Introduces Detailed School Report Cards
Immediate elimination 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 correspondent @fayebrownSky
Monday, September 2, 2024, 8:
State schools will no longer receive single-word Ofsted ratings, effective immediately, a change celebrated as a "landmark moment for children."
In the past, the educational oversight body graded schools it evaluated with one of four possible ratings: outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate.
Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced four new grading levels that will be applied to the current sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Beginning in September 2025, schools will issue report cards that offer parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and aim to enhance the efficacy of inspections in promoting improvements, the announcement stated.
The adjustment comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and the 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 related to safeguarding.
In 2022, a coroner's inquest determined that flaws in the inspection process 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 the modification will aid in eliminating obstacles to opportunity.
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On the Sky News program "Breakfast with Kay Burley," Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "We are implementing this change today as I think it's vital for parents to have greater insights into the activities within our schools, since the current system is proving ineffective.
"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving quality in our educational institutions. This is crucial as I aim for every child to receive an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."
The new Labour administration has made reform a key priority, committing to enhance public education quality and increase funding by imposing a tax on fees from private schools.
In today's announcement, the government declared its focus on advancing enhancement programs for schools that are underperforming, opting not to depend solely on altering their administration.
Starting in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be deployed to collaborate with schools that are struggling, aiming to improve areas of deficiency.
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In situations where schools are found to be severely lacking and would have received an inadequate rating, the government will maintain its involvement.
The Department for Education (DfE) indicated that one option could be to mandate an academy order. This would compel maintained schools to convert into academies, potentially leading to a change in management in certain cases.
Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is abundantly evident that reforming Ofsted is essential to promote consistently high and improving standards for every child in every school."
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"Eliminating headline grades represents a transformative change and a significant milestone for students, parents, and educators alike."
She also mentioned that single headline grades provide "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 aim to deliver just that."
"This administration is committed to enhancing the effectiveness and openness of inspections to foster betterment in schools. We pledged to bring about change, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."
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Changes 'might be more extensive'
The news was released as students head 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 private 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 some time.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, stated, "We have consistently emphasized 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 made a commendable choice, but he believes that they could extend their efforts beyond the misconception that turning schools into academies is the sole way to enhance our educational system.
"Today's declarations mark a significant move forward, yet without comprehensive and fundamental reforms to repair the underlying flaws of the failed accountability system, teachers and school leaders will persist in operating within a defective framework," he stated.
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