Revolution in School Ratings: One-Word Ofsted Grades Scrapped in Landmark Education Reform

Immediate end to single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools

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

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

Ofsted's practice of summarizing state schools' evaluations with a single word is being discontinued immediately, a decision that has been 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 announced that four new grades will be distributed among the current sub-categories, which include quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Starting in September 2025, schools will begin issuing report cards. These will offer parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and enhance the effectiveness of inspections in promoting advancements, the statement explained.

The decision 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 related to safeguarding.

In 2022, a coroner's inquiry concluded that the inspection procedures played a role in her demise.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic, single phrase ratings do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school's total performance, and that this reform would assist in removing obstacles to opportunity.

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During an interview on Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley," Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "Today, we are implementing this reform because I think it's crucial for parents to have greater insights into the activities within our schools, as the current system is simply ineffective."

"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving quality in our educational institutions. 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 transformation a key goal, committing to enhance public education quality and create extra revenue by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

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

Starting in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be established to collaborate with schools that are struggling, aiming to improve areas where they are deficient.

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In situations where schools are found to be severely lacking, prompting a rating of inadequate, the government will maintain its policy of stepping in.

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that this process might entail enforcing an academy order that compels maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially leading to a change in administration in certain cases.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is abundantly evident that we must reform Ofsted to ensure continuously high and improving standards for every child in all schools."

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"Eliminating headline grades represents a significant overhaul and a pivotal point for students, parents, and educators."

She also mentioned that simplistic 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 better performance in schools. We pledged to bring about 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 standalone headline grades will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, and it is anticipated that private schools and colleges will adopt this change subsequently.

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

Paul Whiteman, the chief of the National Association of Headteachers, remarked, "We have consistently stated that oversimplified 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, General Secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new government made a correct choice but emphasized that they could extend their efforts beyond merely promoting academy conversion as the sole solution for enhancing our schools.

"While today's declarations mark a significant move towards improvement, without comprehensive and fundamental changes to repair the core of the dysfunctional accountability system, educators and school administrators will still be operating within an inherently flawed framework," he stated.

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