Major Overhaul: UK to Abandon One-Word Ofsted Ratings, Introducing Detailed School Report Cards

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools to be discontinued at once

This alteration comes after discussions with educational professionals and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted review.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

Ofsted's practice of issuing single-word evaluations for public schools has been discontinued effective immediately, a decision that has been 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 four new grades that will be assigned to the existing sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Beginning in September 2025, schools will start issuing report cards that offer parents a detailed evaluation of school performance, aiming to enhance the efficiency of inspections in fostering improvements, the statement explained.

The decision comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and the 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 the previous year, an inquiry by the coroner determined that the inspection procedures played a role in her demise.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic one-word ratings do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school's overall performance, and this reform will aid in removing obstacles to opportunity.

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Speaking on Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley," Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced, "Today, we are implementing this reform because I think it's vital for parents to have better insight into what's happening in our schools, as the current system is simply not effective."

"The risks are too great, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving our educational standards. This is crucial, as I am committed to ensuring that every child receives an excellent education and a solid foundation for the future."

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

In today's announcement, the government declared its focus on enhancing programs for underperforming schools, moving away from its previous strategy of altering their administration.

Starting in early 2025, regional enhancement squads 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 are found to be performing extremely poorly, receiving an inadequate rating, the government will maintain its involvement.

The Department for Education (DfE) noted that this process might involve implementing an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially leading to a change in management.

Ms. Phillipson previously emphasized, "It is patently obvious that we need to overhaul Ofsted to ensure consistently high and improving standards for every child in every school."

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

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

"Parents should have access to a more comprehensive and transparent overview of school performance, which is exactly what our report cards aim to offer."

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

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Changes 'might be more extensive'

The news coincides with students heading back to school this week.

The elimination of individual headline ratings will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, with plans to extend this change to independent schools and colleges subsequently.

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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, stated: "We have consistently expressed that simple one-word evaluations are 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, praised the new government for making the correct choice but suggested that they could do more by dispelling the myth that transforming into an academy is the sole path to achieving necessary enhancements in our schools.

"Although today's declarations mark significant progress, without comprehensive and fundamental reform to repair the underlying issues of the defective accountability system, educators and school administrators will still operate within an imperfect framework," he stated.

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