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

Ofsted to Eliminate Simplified School Ratings Effective Immediately

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

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024 08:47

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for public schools are being discontinued effective immediately, a change that has been celebrated as a "significant milestone for children."

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

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced that four new grades will be implemented across 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 enhance the impact of inspections on school improvement, according to recent announcements.

The decision was made after consultations with educational stakeholders and 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 investigation by a coroner determined that the inspection procedures 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, asserting that the modification will aid in "breaking down barriers to opportunity."

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Speaking on Sky News' Breakfast with Kay Burley, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced: "Today we are implementing this change as I think it’s essential for parents to have better insights into what is happening in our schools, since the current system is failing to do so.

"The risks are too significant, and the approach lacks a clear emphasis on improving quality in our educational institutions. This is crucial as I desire 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, pledging to improve public education and increase funding by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

In today's announcement, the government declared its focus on enhancing programs for schools that are underperforming, instead of just shifting their management.

Starting in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be deployed to assist struggling schools in overcoming their challenges.

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In situations where schools are found to be severely lacking, the government will maintain its involvement.

The Department for Education (DfE) stated that this process might involve implementing an academy order that compels maintained 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 transformation and a pivotal point for students, families, and educators."

She also mentioned that single headline grades provide "minimal information for parents while having major consequences for schools".

"Our report cards aim to give parents a more comprehensive and transparent understanding of school performance."

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

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Proposed changes 'might extend deeper'

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

The elimination of standalone headline ratings 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 plans, which they have been advocating for as necessary reforms for some time.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed approval by stating, "We have consistently argued that simplistic, 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, General Secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new government made a correct choice, but he suggested that they could extend their efforts beyond the misconception that turning schools into academies is the sole path to achieving the necessary enhancements in education.

"While today's declarations mark a significant move forward, without comprehensive and fundamental changes to repair the underlying issues of our flawed accountability system, educators and school administrators will persist in operating within an imperfect framework," he stated.

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