Ofsted Overhaul: One-Word School Ratings Scrapped in Major Education Reform

Single-word Ofsted assessments for schools to be discontinued effective immediately

This adjustment comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose suicide was linked to an Osfted evaluation.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

Ofsted's practice of summarizing state schools' evaluations with a single word is being discontinued immediately, a change celebrated as a "significant milestone for children."

Before, the educational oversight body assigned one of four ratings to evaluated schools: outstanding, good, requires improvement, and inadequate.

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new grading system. Four distinct grades will now be assigned within the current sub-categories, which include 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, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of inspections in fostering improvements, according to the announcement.

The adjustment comes after consultations with educational authorities and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted evaluation that lowered her Caversham Primary School in Reading's rating from "outstanding" to "inadequate" due to issues with safeguarding.

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

The Department for Education stated that simplistic, one-line ratings do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school's overall effectiveness. They added that the modification will aid in removing obstacles that hinder opportunities.

Further Details on Bridget Phillipson

Starting next week, free childcare services will be extended to include children as young as nine months. However, the implementation faces several hurdles.

Education Secretary Issues Warning: Parents Risk Losing Preferred Spots in Free Childcare Programs

Schools to educate students on identifying misinformation and harmful conspiracy theories online following recent unrest

Associated Subjects:

On Sky News' Breakfast with Kay Burley show, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced: "Today, we are implementing this change as I think it's important for parents to have greater insight into what is happening in our schools, since 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 because I am committed to ensuring every child receives an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."

The new Labour administration has made reform a key objective, committing to improve public schooling and increase funds by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

In today's announcement, the government declared its intention to focus on enhancing schools that are underperforming, instead of simply switching their leadership.

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

For an enhanced video viewing experience, it is recommended to utilize the Chrome browser

In situations where schools are found to be severely lacking, the government will maintain its policy of stepping in.

The Department for Education (DfE) noted that this might involve implementing an academy order requiring public schools to transition to academy status, potentially resulting in a change of management in certain cases.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is abundantly evident that we must reform Ofsted to ensure consistently high and improving standards for every child in every school."

Stay ahead with the latest breaking news updates.

Download the Sky News application at no cost

Discover further details on Sky News: Adele announces a significant hiatus from her music career. Learn how a terror organization associated with a scheme at a Taylor Swift concert is expanding its reach.

"The elimination of headline grades represents a pivotal change and a significant milestone for students, families, and educators."

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

"Parents need a more transparent and comprehensive understanding of school performance, and our report cards are designed to offer just that."

"The administration is committed to enhancing the role of inspections, making them more effective and more transparent, as a means to foster improvements in schools. We pledged to bring about reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment

For optimal video playback, it is recommended to use the Chrome browser.

Changes 'might extend deeper'

The news was released as students make their way back to school this week.

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

Stay informed about the most recent developments from the UK and globally by following Sky News.

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

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed satisfaction with the government's prompt removal of simplistic one-word evaluations, stating, "We have consistently maintained that these simplistic assessments are damaging."

👆 Click here to subscribe to the Sky News Daily podcast for daily 20-minute updates on major stories 📰

Dr. Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged the new government's correct approach but suggested they could do more by dispelling the myth that turning schools into academies is the sole way to enhance them.

"Although today's declarations mark a significant move towards improvement, without comprehensive reforms to correct the underlying issues of the dysfunctional accountability system, teachers and school leaders will still be operating within an imperfect framework," he stated.

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

Associated Subjects

Sky News Bottom Section

Information about Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Channels on Sky

Additional Sky Websites