Revolution in School Ratings: UK Government Scraps One-Word Ofsted Grades in Response to Calls for Reform

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

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

Political journalist @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, at 8

Immediate abolition of single-word Ofsted evaluations for public schools marks a significant turning point for student welfare, receiving widespread acclaim.

Before, the school inspection agency assigned one of four ratings to the schools it evaluated: excellent, satisfactory, needs improvement, or unsatisfactory.

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

Starting in September 2025, new school report cards will be rolled out, offering parents a detailed overview of school performance and enhancing the efficiency of inspections in promoting advancements, the announcement detailed.

The decision 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 flaws in the inspection process played a role in her death.

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

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Speaking on Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley," Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "We are implementing this reform today as I think it's crucial for parents to have better insight into what is happening in our schools, since the current system simply does not function effectively."

"The stakes are too high, and it lacks a precise emphasis on improving our schools' standards. This is crucial because I desire for every child to receive an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."

The new Labour government has made reform a key goal, 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 intention to focus on enhancing programs for underperforming schools, opting not to switch their management.

Beginning in early 2025, teams focused on regional enhancement will be deployed to assist schools that are struggling, targeting specific areas that need improvement.

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

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that this process might involve mandating a conversion to academy status for public schools, potentially leading to a change in administration under certain conditions.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated: "It's abundantly clear that we need Ofsted reform to ensure consistently high and improving standards for every child in every school."

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

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

Parents need a more comprehensive and transparent understanding of school performance, which is exactly what our report cards aim to deliver.

"The 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 individual headline ratings will affect state schools scheduled for evaluation this academic year, with plans for similar changes to be implemented in independent schools and colleges subsequently.

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Teaching unions have expressed their approval of the plans, having advocated for changes for an extended period.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, stated: "We have consistently emphasized that simple, 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 administration has made a commendable choice, but he suggested they could do more to dismiss the misconception that turning into an academy is the sole method to enhance our schools.

"Today's announcements represent a positive move, but without comprehensive reform to overhaul the fundamentally flawed accountability system, teachers and school leaders will still be operating within a defective framework," he stated.

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