Revolution in School Ratings: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Grades Following Tragic Catalyst and Sector Consultation

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools to be immediately discontinued

The decision comes after consultations with educational professionals and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted review.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, at 8

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

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

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new system where four distinct grades will be assigned across the current sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour 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 effectiveness of inspections in promoting progress, the announcement stated.

The decision was made after discussions with educational stakeholders and relatives of Ruth Perry, a headteacher who died by suicide following a critical Ofsted report. This report reclassified 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 flaws in the inspection process played a role in causing her death

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

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

"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a precise emphasis on enhancing the quality of education in our schools. This is crucial as 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 objective, promising to improve public education quality and to increase funds by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

In today's announcement, the government emphasized its focus on enhancing support for schools that are underperforming, opting to improve existing structures instead of altering leadership.

Starting in early 2025, specialized teams will be deployed to assist schools that are struggling, focusing on enhancing areas where they are underperforming.

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In situations where schools are underperforming to the extent they would receive an inadequate rating, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that this might involve implementing an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially resulting in a change of management in certain cases.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is abundantly evident that reforming Ofsted is essential to promote consistently 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 grades that summarize performance in one label provide "minimal information for parents and carry significant consequences for schools."

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

"This administration is committed to enhancing the role of inspections, making them a stronger and more open mechanism for advancing school progress. We pledged reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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Reforms 'might be more extensive'

The news coincides with students heading back to school this week.

The elimination of individual headline ratings will be implemented in public schools scheduled for evaluation this school year. It is anticipated that private institutions and colleges will also adopt this change.

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

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, stated: "We have consistently emphasized that overly simplistic single-word evaluations are damaging, and we are gratified to see the government quickly eliminate them."

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Dr. Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new government has made a commendable choice, but he suggested they could do more to debunk the myth that turning into an academy is the sole path to achieving the necessary enhancements in our schools.

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

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