Revolution in School Ratings: Ofsted Ends One-Word Judgments Following Tragic Catalyst and Sector Engagement

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

This modification comes after discussions with educational stakeholders and the family of headteacher Ruth Perry, who tragically ended her life following an Ofsted assessment.

Political journalist @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

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

Previously, the academic oversight body assigned one of four ratings to schools it evaluated: excellent, satisfactory, needs improvement, and unsatisfactory.

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced that four new grades will be assigned within the existing sub-categories, which include quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Beginning in September 2025, schools will start issuing report cards that offer parents a detailed evaluation of school performance, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of inspections and fostering improvements, the statement said.

The decision was made after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who committed 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, an inquiry by a coroner determined that the inspection procedures played a role in her demise.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic, single phrase ratings do not offer a fair and precise evaluation of a school's overall performance, noting that the adjustment will aid in removing obstacles to opportunities.

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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson spoke to Sky News' Breakfast with Kay Burley, stating, "Today, we are implementing this change as I think it's vital for parents to be better informed about the activities within our schools, since the current system is failing."

"The stakes are too high, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving school standards. 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 quality and create extra revenue by taxing the fees of private schools.

In today's announcement, the government declared its focus on enhancing programs for schools that are underperforming, instead of opting to alter their management.

Beginning in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be deployed to assist struggling schools in improving their deficiencies.

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In instances where schools would have received the lowest rating of inadequate, the government will maintain its intervention efforts.

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that this process may involve granting an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially under new leadership.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is patently obvious that we need to reform Ofsted to ensure continuously high and improving standards for every child in every school."

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"Eliminating headline grades marks a significant generational shift and a pivotal moment for students, parents, 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 overview of school performance, which is exactly what our report cards aim to offer.

"This administration is committed to transforming inspections into a more effective and more open means of enhancing school performance. We vowed to bring about reform, and we are now fulfilling that pledge."

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Changes 'might extend beyond current scope'

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

The elimination of individual headline grades will affect state schools scheduled for inspection in the current 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 for the plans, having consistently advocated for changes.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, stated: "We have consistently argued that simple one-word evaluations are damaging, 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 made a commendable choice but emphasized that more could be done to dispel the myth that turning into an academy is the sole path to enhancing our educational institutions.

"Today's updates mark significant progress, but without comprehensive reform to correct the core issues of the failing accountability system, educators and school administrators will still be operating within an inherently flawed system," he stated.

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