Revolution in School Ratings: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Grades Amid Calls for Deeper Educational Reform

Single-word school evaluations by Ofsted to be discontinued at once

This decision 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, 8:

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

Before, the educational oversight body assigned one of four ratings to the schools it evaluated: excellent, satisfactory, needs enhancement, or unsatisfactory.

Starting this academic term, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced that it will introduce four new grades evaluating the existing sub-categories: quality of education, behavior 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 and aim to enhance the impact of inspections on school improvements, the statement explained.

The decision was made after consultations with educational stakeholders and the family of headteacher Ruth Perry, who committed suicide following an Ofsted evaluation that lowered her Caversham Primary School in Reading from "outstanding" to "inadequate" due to issues with safeguarding.

In 2022, an inquiry by the coroner determined that the inspection procedures played a role in her demise.

The Department for Education stated that simplistic, single-statement ratings do not offer a just and precise evaluation of a school's overall performance, and that this adjustment will aid in removing obstacles to opportunity.

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On Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley," Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "Today we are implementing this reform because I think it's important for parents to have greater insight into what happens in our schools, as the current system is simply not effective."

"The risks are too significant, and the approach lacks a clear emphasis on improving quality in our educational institutions. This is crucial because I desire for 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 increase funding by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

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

Starting in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be established to collaborate with schools that are not meeting performance standards, focusing on improving their deficiencies.

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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) stated that one option could be to issue an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially resulting in a shift to different management in certain cases.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is abundantly clear 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 represents a significant overhaul 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 need a more transparent and comprehensive understanding of school performance, and our report cards are designed to offer just that.

"This administration is committed to enhancing the effectiveness and clarity of inspections to foster betterment in schools. We pledged reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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Changes 'might be more extensive'

The statement was made as students head back to school this week.

The elimination of individual headline ratings will be implemented in public schools scheduled for evaluation this academic year, with plans for this change to extend to private schools and colleges subsequently.

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Teaching unions have expressed their approval of the plans, having advocated for changes for some time.

Paul Whiteman, the chief of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed satisfaction about the government's quick response to eliminate simple single-word ratings, stating, "We have consistently emphasized that these basic assessments are damaging."

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NASUWT General Secretary Dr. Patrick Roach commended the new government for taking a positive step, but suggested that they could do more to dispel the myth that turning into an academy is the sole path to achieving the necessary enhancements in our schools.

"Today's developments mark significant progress, yet without comprehensive reform to overhaul the fundamental issues of the flawed accountability system, educators and school administrators will still operate within a problematic framework," he stated.

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