Revolution in School Assessments: UK Government Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings, Introduces Detailed Report Cards

Ofsted's single-word school evaluations to be discontinued at once

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

Political journalist @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, at 8

Ofsted's practice of issuing single-word evaluations for public schools has been immediately discontinued, a decision celebrated as a pivotal event for students.

Before, the educational oversight body used to assign one of four ratings to the schools it evaluated: outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate.

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new grading system that will apply four different grades within 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 to offer parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and to enhance the effectiveness of inspections in promoting improvements, the announcement stated.

The modification comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and the relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted assessment that demoted her Caversham Primary School in Reading from "outstanding" to "inadequate" due to issues related to safeguarding.

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

The Department for Education stated that simplified, singular grade descriptors do not offer a just or precise evaluation of a school's overall performance, and that this reform will aid in removing obstacles to opportunities.

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

"The risks are too great, and it lacks a precise emphasis on improving our schools' quality. This is crucial because I desire every child to receive an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."

The new Labour administration has made reform a key objective, committing to enhance public schooling 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 for this approach over changing leadership.

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

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In instances where schools are found to be severely lacking and would have received an inadequate rating, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) stated that this might involve mandating an academy order that compels maintained schools to convert into academies, potentially resulting in a change of management in certain cases.

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

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"Eliminating top-level ratings marks a significant transformation and a pivotal point for students, families, 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 transparent understanding of school performance – this is precisely what our report cards aim to offer."

"This administration is committed to transforming inspection into a more effective and transparent mechanism for enhancing school performance. We pledged reform, and we are now fulfilling that promise."

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"Changes might be more extensive"

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

The elimination of individual headline ratings will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection during this academic year, and it is anticipated that private schools and colleges will also adopt this change subsequently.

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Teaching unions have expressed their approval of the plans, having advocated for changes for an extended period.

Paul Whiteman, the chief official of the National Association of Headteachers, stated, "We have consistently maintained that basic 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 he stressed that they could do more to dismiss the misconception that turning schools into academies is the sole way to enhance them.

"Today's announcements represent a positive movement forward, yet without comprehensive reform to address the core issues of the failing accountability system, teachers and school leaders are still operating within a fundamentally flawed system," he stated.

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