Revolutionizing School Evaluations: UK Scraps One-Word Ofsted Ratings in Landmark Education Reform

Single-term Ofsted evaluations for schools to be eliminated at once

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

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, September 2, 2024 08:47

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

In the past, the academic oversight body would assign 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 announced that it will introduce four new grades across the current sub-categories, which include quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Starting in September 2025, school report cards will be implemented, offering parents a detailed evaluation of school performance and enhancing the efficacy of inspections to promote improvements, the statement explained.

The adjustment comes after consultations with educational stakeholders and relatives of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide 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 determined that flaws in the inspection procedure played a role in 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, and that this reform will aid in dismantling obstacles to opportunity.

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In a discussion on Sky News' "Breakfast with Kay Burley," Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced, "Today, we are implementing this reform as I think it’s vital for parents to have a clearer insight into the activities within our schools, as the current system is failing to meet that need."

"The risks are too great, and it lacks a clear emphasis on improving the quality of education in our schools. This is crucial because I want every child to receive an excellent education and a strong foundation for their future."

The new Labour administration has made reform a key goal, committing to enhance public education quality 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, instead of opting to alter their management.

Starting in early 2025, specialized teams will be deployed to assist struggling schools by focusing on their specific areas of improvement.

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In situations where schools are deemed to be performing extremely poorly, to the point of being rated as inadequate, the government will maintain its policy of intervention.

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that measures could involve the implementation of an academy order, compelling maintained schools to transition into academies, potentially necessitating a shift to different management in certain cases.

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

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"Eliminating overall grades marks a significant transformation and a pivotal point for students, families, and educators."

She further mentioned that simplistic overall ratings provide minimal information for parents while having significant consequences for schools.

Parents should have access to a more comprehensive and clearer understanding of school performance, which is exactly what our report cards aim to offer.

"This administration is committed to transforming inspection into a more effective and transparent mechanism to enhance school performance. We pledged reform, and we are now fulfilling that commitment."

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Reforms 'might extend beyond current measures'

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

The elimination of individual headline ratings will be implemented in state schools scheduled for inspection during 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 their approval of 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 approval, stating, "We have consistently argued that simplistic one-word evaluations are damaging, 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 government has made a correct choice, but he suggested that they could do more to dismiss the misconception that turning into an academy is the sole way to achieve the necessary enhancements in our schools.

"Today's developments represent a positive move, yet without comprehensive reforms to overhaul the underlying issues of the flawed accountability structure, educators and school administrators will persist in operating within an imperfect system," he stated.

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