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

Single-word Ofsted evaluations for schools will be discontinued at once. This decision comes after consultations with educational professionals and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose suicide occurred following an Ofsted inspection.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 08:

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

Formerly, the educational oversight body assigned one of four ratings to the schools it evaluated: outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate.

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new grading system, consisting of four levels, to assess the following areas: quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Starting in September 2025, school report cards will be implemented to offer parents a detailed evaluation of school performance, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of inspections in fostering improvements, according to the announcement.

The adjustment comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who tragically ended her life following an Ofsted evaluation that lowered her Caversham Primary School in Reading from "outstanding" to "inadequate" due to issues with safeguarding.

In 2022, a coroner's inquiry 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 mentioned that the modification is aimed at dismantling obstacles to opportunities.

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Speaking on Sky News' Breakfast with Kay Burley, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "Today, we are initiating this change as I think it's important for parents to have greater insight into the activities happening in our schools, as the current system is simply not effective."

"The risks are too significant, and it lacks a clear emphasis on the ways we can enhance quality 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 priority, committing to improve public education and increase funding by imposing a tax on private school tuition fees.

In today's announcement, the government declared its focus on enhancing programs for schools that are underperforming, shifting away from strategies that involve changing their management.

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

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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 might involve mandating an academy order that compels maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially leading to a change in management in certain cases.

Ms. Phillipson previously stated, "It is absolutely evident that reforms in Ofsted are necessary to ensure consistently high and improving standards for every child in every school."

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"Eliminating headline grades represents a pivotal and historic change for students, parents, and educators alike."

She also mentioned that singular focus ratings provide limited insights for parents while carrying significant implications for schools.

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

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

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Proposed changes 'might be more extensive'

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

The elimination of individual headline grades 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 subsequently.

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Teaching unions have expressed support for the plans, which they have been advocating for as necessary reforms for some time.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, expressed contentment, stating, "We have consistently emphasized that reductive single-word ratings are detrimental, and we are gratified to see the government's prompt response in eliminating them."

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Dr. Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new administration has made a commendable choice. Nonetheless, he suggested that they could extend their efforts beyond the belief that transforming into an academy is the sole way to enhance our schools.

"Although today's declarations mark a significant move towards improvement, without comprehensive reforms to overhaul the fundamentally flawed accountability structure, educators and school administrators will still be operating within a defective system," he stated.

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