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

Single-term Ofsted evaluations for schools will be discontinued at once

This alteration comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted review.

Political journalist @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024, 8:

The practice of assigning single-word Ofsted ratings to public schools has been discontinued effective immediately, a change celebrated as a "significant milestone for children."

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

Starting this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has declared that four new grades will be introduced, covering the current sub-categories of quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Starting in September 2025, new school report cards will be implemented to offer parents a detailed overview of school performance and to enhance the impact of inspections on promoting advancements, the announcement stated.

The decision was made after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide when her Caversham Primary School in Reading was demoted from "outstanding" to "inadequate" due to issues with safeguarding, according to an Ofsted evaluation.

In 2022, a judicial inquiry determined that the examination procedure played a role in causing her demise.

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

Further Details on Bridget Phillipson

Starting next week, free childcare will be offered to children as young as nine months old, though the implementation may face some hurdles.

Education secretary cautions that parents might not secure their preferred slots for no-cost childcare programs.

Schools to educate students on identifying false information and harmful conspiracy theories on the internet following recent unrest.

On the Topic:

Speaking on Sky News’ “Breakfast with Kay Burley,” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced: “We are implementing this reform today as I think it’s vital for parents to have greater insight into what is happening in our schools, because the current system is simply not effective.

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

The transformation of public education has been a key focus for the new Labour administration, committed to enhancing educational quality and securing extra resources 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, moving away from its previous strategy of altering their leadership.

Starting in early 2025, regional enhancement groups will be established to assist struggling schools in improving their areas of deficiency.

For an enhanced video viewing experience, it is recommended to use the Chrome browser

In instances where schools are deemed to be performing extremely poorly, receiving an inadequate rating, the government will maintain its involvement.

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that one option could be to mandate an academy order. This would require public schools to convert into academies, potentially placing them under new administration in certain cases.

Earlier, Ms. Phillipson stated, "It is abundantly evident that reforms in Ofsted are necessary to elevate and maintain high standards for every child in every school."

Stay ahead with the latest Breaking News

Download the Sky News application at no cost

Discover additional coverage from Sky News: Adele announces extended hiatus from music, while a terror organization connected to a planned attack at a Taylor Swift concert expands its reach.

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

She also mentioned that simplistic headline grades offer minimal information to parents but carry significant consequences for schools.

"Our report cards aim to give parents a more comprehensive and transparent understanding of school performance."

"This administration is committed to enhancing and increasing the transparency of inspections to boost school advancement. We pledged to bring about reform, and we are fulfilling that commitment."

For an optimal video viewing experience, it is recommended to utilize the Chrome browser

Changes 'might be more extensive'

The news is released as students make their way back to school this week.

The elimination of individual headline ratings will affect state schools scheduled for inspection this academic year, with plans for similar changes in private schools and colleges to take place subsequently.

Stay informed about the most recent developments in the UK and globally by tuning into Sky News.

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

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, stated, "We have consistently emphasized that straightforward, single-word evaluations are detrimental, and we are gratified that the government has acted quickly to eliminate them."

👉 Click here to subscribe to the Sky News Daily podcast for daily 20-minute updates on the major stories 👈

Dr. Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, acknowledged that the new government has taken a positive step, but he emphasized that more could be done to dismiss the myth that turning into an academy is the sole way to enhance our schools.

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

Tune into The Politics Hub on Sky News tonight at 7pm.

Associated Subjects

Footer of Sky News

Information About Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Channels on Sky

Additional Sites under Sky