Ofsted Overhauls School Ratings: New Detailed Report Cards to Replace One-Word Judgements

Immediate cessation of single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools

This decision comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose suicide was linked to an Osted review.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, at 8

Ofsted's practice of issuing single-word evaluations for public schools has been immediately discontinued, a change praised as a significant milestone for students.

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

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced four new grade levels that will be applied to the current sub-categories: 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 and aim to enhance the impact of inspections on school improvement, the announcement stated.

The adjustment comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and 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 with safeguarding.

In 2022, a judicial inquiry determined that flaws in the inspection procedure played a role in her demise.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic, one-dimensional ratings do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school's overall effectiveness. They believe that this reform will aid in eliminating obstacles to opportunities.

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On the "Breakfast with Kay Burley" show on Sky News, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "Today we are implementing this change as I think it's vital for parents to have greater insight into what is happening in our schools, and the current system is simply failing."

"The stakes are too high, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving our school standards. That's 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 priority, pledging to improve public education and to increase funds by imposing a tax on the fees of private schools.

In today's announcement, the government revealed that its focus will be on enhancing programs in schools that are underperforming, instead of opting for changes in leadership.

Starting in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be deployed to assist schools that are falling behind, helping them to improve in areas where they are struggling.

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

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that this might involve mandating an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially under new leadership.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is abundantly evident that Ofsted reform is essential to elevate and consistently improve standards for every child in all schools."

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"Eliminating headline grades represents a transformative 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 clearer overview of school performance, which is exactly what our report cards aim to offer.

"This administration is committed to enhancing the role of inspections, making them a more effective and transparent mechanism for advancing school progress. We pledged to bring about reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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Changes 'might extend more'

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

The elimination of solitary headline grades will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection during this academic year, with plans for similar changes to be extended to other institutions such as independent schools and colleges in the future.

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

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed satisfaction with the government's prompt response to their concerns, stating, "We have consistently stated that simplistic single-word evaluations are detrimental, and we are gratified to see them eliminated swiftly by the government."

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Dr. Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new government has made a commendable choice, but he suggested they could do more by debunking the myth that turning into an academy is the sole way to enhance our schools.

"Today's updates are a positive move forward, yet without comprehensive and fundamental changes to correct the underlying issues of the flawed accountability system, educators and school administrators will still be operating within an imperfect framework," he stated.

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