Revamping School Assessments: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings Following Tragic Catalyst and Sector Consultation

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools will be discontinued effective immediately. This decision comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and the family of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose death by suicide occurred following an Ofsted inspection.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 8:

Effective immediately, single-word Ofsted evaluations for public schools are being eliminated, a change celebrated as a "significant milestone for children."

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

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new system where four grades will be assigned within the current sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour 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 make inspections more impactful in promoting enhancements, according to the announcement.

The modification 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 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 that this modification will assist in removing obstacles to opportunity.

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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson spoke on Sky News' Breakfast with Kay Burley show, stating: "Today, we are implementing this change as I think it's crucial for parents to have better insight into 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 educational standards. This is crucial as I desire every child to receive an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."

The transformation of public education has been a key goal for the new Labour administration, committed to enhancing quality and increasing investment by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

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

Starting in early 2025, regional development groups will be established to assist schools that are struggling, focusing on improving their areas of deficiency.

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In situations where schools receive the lowest performance rating, indicating they are inadequate, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that this might involve implementing an academy order, compelling state-run schools to transition into academies, potentially leading to a change in management in certain cases.

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

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"Eliminating headline grades represents a significant overhaul and a pivotal point for students, parents, and educators."

She noted that simplistic headline ratings provide minimal information for parents while carrying significant consequences for schools.

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

"This administration is committed to enhancing inspection processes to make them more effective and more open, as a means 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 standalone headline grades will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, and it is anticipated that independent schools and colleges will adopt this change subsequently.

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Teaching unions have expressed their approval of the proposals, 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 eliminate oversimplified single-word evaluations, stating, "We have consistently emphasized that these simplistic assessments are damaging."

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Dr. Patrick Roach, general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new administration has made a commendable decision but suggested it could do more to dispel the myth that transforming into academies is the sole path to enhancing our educational institutions.

"Although today's declarations mark a significant move forward, the reality persists that without comprehensive and fundamental reform to mend the base of the flawed accountability system, teachers and school administrators will still operate within a defective framework," he stated.

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