Revolution in School Ratings: Ofsted Scraps One-Word Grades Following Sector Engagement and Tragic Loss

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

This modification comes after discussions with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose suicide followed an Ofsted review.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

The practice of issuing single-word Ofsted evaluations for public schools has been discontinued effective immediately, a decision that has been celebrated as a "significant milestone for children."

In the past, the educational oversight body assigned one of four ratings to the schools it reviewed: 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 distinct grades to the following evaluation categories: quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Beginning in September 2025, school report cards will be implemented, offering parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and enhancing the impact of inspections on fostering improvements, the announcement stated.

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

In 2022, a coroner determined that flaws in the inspection procedure 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 believe that this reform will assist in removing obstacles to opportunities.

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On the topic of education, Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, spoke on Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley," stating, "Today we are implementing this reform because I think it's crucial for parents to have better insight into what is happening in our schools, as the current system is simply ineffective."

"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a clear 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 priority, committing to improve public education quality and increase funding by imposing a tax on fees from private schools.

In today's announcement, the government declared its intention to focus on enhancing programs for schools that are underperforming, instead of just switching their leadership.

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

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In instances where schools are found to be severely lacking, resulting in an inadequate rating, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) noted that this might involve implementing an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially under new leadership in certain cases.

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

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"Eliminating headline grades marks a significant, generational change and represents a pivotal moment for students, parents, and educators."

She further noted that grades that sum up performance in one headline are "minimal in information for parents and carry significant implications for schools."

"Parents are entitled to a more comprehensive and transparent understanding 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 transparent mechanism to foster enhancement in schools. We pledged reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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"Changes might be more extensive"

The news arrives as students head back to school this week.

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

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Teaching unions have expressed support for the plans, having advocated for changes for some time.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, commented, "We have consistently stated that simple one-word evaluations 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 government made a correct choice, but he also suggested that they could do more by dispelling the myth that turning schools into academies is the sole way to achieve necessary educational enhancements.

"Today's announcements are a positive move forward, but without comprehensive and fundamental reforms to repair the underlying issues of the flawed accountability system, teachers and school leaders will still be operating within an imperfect system," he stated.

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