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

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

This adjustment comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and the family of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted review.

Political journalist @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 8:

State schools will no longer receive single-word Ofsted ratings, a change effective immediately and 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 betterment, or unsatisfactory.

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced four new grades that will be used to evaluate the following sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Starting in September 2025, new school report cards will be implemented, offering parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and enhancing the impact of inspections on fostering improvements, the statement further explained.

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 shortcomings in the inspection procedures played a role in her death.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic, single-phrase grades do not offer a just or precise evaluation of a school's overall performance, and that the modification will assist in eliminating obstacles to opportunity.

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During an interview on Sky News’ “Breakfast with Kay Burley,” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, “Today, we are implementing this change as I think it’s important for parents to have a better understanding of what is happening in our schools, because the current system is simply not effective.”

"The stakes are too high, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving standards in our schools. This is 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 goal, promising to improve public education and increase funds by taxing tuition fees at private schools.

In today's announcement, the government revealed its strategy to focus on enhancing programs at schools that are underperforming, moving away from previous tactics that involved altering leadership.

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

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In situations where schools receive the lowest possible rating, indicating severe issues, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that this might involve implementing an academy order, compelling maintained schools to convert into academies, potentially resulting in a shift to new management in certain cases.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated: "It is abundantly apparent that we must reform Ofsted to ensure consistently high and improving standards for all children in every school."

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"Eliminating headline grades represents a significant change and a pivotal moment for students, families, and educators."

She also mentioned that giving schools a single overall rating provides "minimal information for parents and significant consequences for schools."

"Parents need a more comprehensive and transparent understanding of school performance – that's exactly what our report cards aim to deliver.

"The administration is committed to enhancing inspection processes to be more effective and transparent, ultimately advancing school improvement. We pledged to bring about change, and we are now fulfilling that promise."

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Changes 'might be more extensive'

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

The elimination of individual headline ratings will affect state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, with plans for similar changes to be implemented in settings 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 an extended period.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed his approval, stating, "We have consistently emphasized that reductive 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, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged the new government's appropriate action but suggested that they could extend their efforts by dismissing the misconception that transforming into an academy is the sole way to enhance our schools.

"Today's announcements represent a positive move forward, but without comprehensive and fundamental reforms to correct the underlying issues of the faulty accountability system, teachers and school leaders will still be operating within an imperfect framework," he stated.

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