Revamping School Assessments: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings in Landmark Education Reform

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools will be discontinued right away. This decision comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and the family of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose suicide followed an Ofsted inspection.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

Single-word Ofsted ratings for public schools have been immediately discontinued, a decision that's being celebrated as a "significant milestone for children."

Before, the academic oversight body assigned one of four ratings to the schools it reviewed: excellent, satisfactory, needs improvement, or unsatisfactory.

Beginning this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced that four new grades will be assigned within the current sub-categories: quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Beginning in September 2025, school report cards will be rolled out, offering parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and enhancing the impact of inspections on promoting improvements, the statement further explained.

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 related to safeguarding.

In 2022, a coroner determined that the inspection procedure played a role in her demise.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic, single phrase ratings do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school’s overall performance. They believe the adjustment will assist in removing obstacles to opportunities.

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On the Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley" show, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "We are implementing this reform today as I think it's essential for parents to have better insight into the activities within our schools, since the current system is failing."

"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a clear emphasis on enhancing the quality of education in our schools. This is crucial as I aim for every child to receive an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."

The new Labour administration has made reform a top priority, committing to improve 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 schools that are underperforming, opting to improve existing structures instead of altering leadership.

Beginning in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be deployed to collaborate with schools that are struggling, aiming to strengthen their areas of deficiency.

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In situations where schools may receive the lowest rating of inadequate, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) explained that this process might involve implementing an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially resulting in them being placed under new management.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated: "It is abundantly evident that reforms to Ofsted are necessary to elevate and maintain high standards for every child in every school."

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"Eliminating headline grades marks a significant transformation and a pivotal moment for students, families, and educators."

She noted that single headline grades offer "minimal information for parents and significant consequences for schools."

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

"This administration is committed to enhancing the role of inspections in advancing the quality of schools by making them more effective and more open. We pledged to bring about reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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Changes 'might be more extensive'

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

Single headline grades will no longer be assigned to state schools undergoing inspections this academic year, and it is anticipated that independent schools and colleges will soon adopt this change as well.

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Teaching unions have expressed support for the plans, which they have advocated for as necessary reforms for some time.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, stated: "We have consistently expressed that simplistic single-word evaluations are detrimental, and we are gratified that the government has acted quickly to eliminate them."

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Dr. Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new government has made a commendable choice but suggested that they could extend their efforts by dispelling the myth that becoming an academy is the sole path to achieving the enhancements necessary in our schools.

"Although today's declarations mark a significant move forward, without comprehensive reform to mend the underlying issues of the flawed accountability system, teachers and school leaders will still be operating within an imperfect system," he stated.

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