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

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools to be discontinued at once

This alteration comes after consultations with educational professionals and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted review.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, at 8

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

Before, the academic monitoring body would assign one of four ratings to the schools it evaluated: excellent, satisfactory, needs improvement, or poor.

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced that four new grades will be introduced, covering the following areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Starting in September 2025, school report cards will be launched, offering parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and enhancing the efficiency of inspections in promoting betterment, the statement further explained.

The adjustment 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 the inspection procedures played a role in her passing.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic single phrase grades do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school's overall performance. They added that this modification will assist in "overcoming obstacles to opportunity."

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On Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley," Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "Today we are implementing this change as I think it's crucial for parents to have better insights into what is happening in our schools, since the current system is simply not effective.

"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving quality in our educational institutions. This is crucial because 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, committing to enhance public education quality and to 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 not to switch their management.

Starting in early 2025, specialized regional teams will be deployed to collaborate with schools that are struggling, aiming to enhance areas where they are lacking.

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In situations where schools might have received the lowest rating of inadequate, government intervention will still take place.

According to the Department for Education (DfE), this may involve mandating an academy order that compels maintained schools to convert into academies, potentially leading to a change in management in certain cases.

Earlier, Ms. Phillipson stated, "It is abundantly evident that reforms in Ofsted are necessary to ensure consistently high and improving standards for every child in all schools."

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"The elimination of headline grades marks a significant shift and a pivotal event for students, parents, and educators alike."

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

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

"This administration is committed to enhancing the effectiveness and transparency of inspections to foster advancements in school quality. We pledged to bring about reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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Changes 'might be more extensive'

The statement was made as students head back to school this week.

The elimination of standalone headline ratings will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, with plans for similar changes to be rolled out in independent schools and colleges subsequently.

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Educational organizations have expressed their support for the proposals, which they have been advocating for changes to for quite some time.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, stated, "We have consistently expressed that simplistic single-word assessments 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 that the new government has made a correct choice, yet he emphasized that they could do more by abandoning the misconception that turning schools into academies is the sole way to achieve the necessary enhancements in education.

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

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