Revolution in School Assessments: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings Following Tragic Catalyst

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools will be eliminated effective immediately. This decision comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted inspection.

Political journalist @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

Ofsted's practice of issuing single-word evaluations for public schools is being immediately discontinued, a decision that's being celebrated as a "significant milestone for children."

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

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has declared that four grades will now 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 enhance the effectiveness of inspections in fostering improvements, the announcement stated.

The adjustment comes after discussions 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 regarding safeguarding.

In 2022, an inquiry by a coroner determined that the inspection procedures played a role in her demise.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic one-word ratings do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school's overall performance, and that this reform will aid in eliminating obstacles 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 crucial for parents to have better insight into the activities happening in our schools, since the current system is failing."

"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving the quality of education 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, committing to improve public education quality and increase funding by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

In today's announcement, the government declared its focus on enhancing plans for schools that are underperforming, instead of opting for management changes.

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

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In situations where schools are performing extremely poorly and would receive an inadequate rating, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) stated that this process might involve granting an academy order that compels maintained schools to convert into academies, potentially resulting in a transition to different management.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is overwhelmingly evident that reforming Ofsted is essential to promote consistently high and improving standards for every child in every school."

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"Eliminating headline grades represents a monumental shift and a significant milestone for students, parents, and educators."

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

"Parents should have access to a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of school performance – our report cards are designed to offer just that."

"The administration is committed to transforming inspection into a stronger, more open method for advancing school enhancement. We pledged reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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Proposed changes might be more extensive

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

The elimination of individual headline grades will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, with plans to extend this change to independent schools and colleges subsequently.

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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, stated, "We have consistently expressed that simple single-word assessments are detrimental, 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 administration has taken a positive step but emphasized that more could be done to dispel the myth that becoming an academy is the sole solution for enhancing our schools.

"Today's declarations mark a significant move forward, yet without comprehensive reform to overhaul the fundamentally flawed accountability system, teachers and school leaders will persist in operating within a defective framework," he stated.

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