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

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools will be discontinued at once. 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, 8:

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

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

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

Beginning in September 2025, schools will start issuing report cards that offer a detailed evaluation of their performance, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of inspections and fostering improvement, the announcement stated.

The decision was made after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry. Ms. Perry tragically ended her life 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 demise.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic single phrase grades do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school's total performance, and the modification will assist in "breaking down barriers to opportunity".

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Speaking on Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley," Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced, "Today we are implementing this reform because I think it's crucial for parents to have greater insights into the activities happening in our schools, as the current system is failing to do so.

"The stakes are too high, and it lacks sufficient emphasis on enhancing quality in our schools. This is crucial as 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 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 programs for schools that are underperforming, moving away from strategies that involve changing their administration.

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 situations where schools receive the lowest possible rating of inadequate, 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 transition into academies, potentially leading to a change in management in certain cases.

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

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"Eliminating headline grades represents a significant change and a pivotal moment for students, families, 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 transparent overview of school performance, which is exactly what our report cards aim to offer.

"This administration is committed to enhancing the effectiveness and transparency of inspections to foster betterment in schools. 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 grades will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year. This change is anticipated to extend to other educational institutions such as independent schools and colleges in due course.

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Teaching unions have expressed their approval for the plans, having advocated for changes 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 taken a correct step but emphasized that there should be additional measures to dispel the misconception that becoming an academy is the sole way to enhance our schools.

"Although today's updates mark significant progress, without comprehensive and fundamental changes to overhaul the flawed accountability system, teachers and school administrators will still operate within a problematic framework," he stated.

Tune into The Politics Hub on Sky News tonight at 7pm.

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