The government today scrapped Ofsted’s single grades for schools, despite warnings it could harm pupils by lowering standards.
The watchdog has previously awarded one of four main grades to the schools it inspects: ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ and ‘inadequate’.
But schools will now receive grades for individual subcategories – and from next year, this grading system could be abandoned altogether in favour of report cards.
The decision delighted teaching unions, while the family of headteacher Ruth Perry said they were “relieved” by the end of one-word judgments, after a coronial inquest found the inspection process contributed to her death.
However, as the Tories have warned its removal is “not in the best interests of pupils or parents”, MailOnline looks at what this means for you and your children’s school:
Single-grade Ofsted ratings for schools to be scrapped with immediate effect (archive image)
How are Ofsted inspections evolving?
The government has announced that single-grade Ofsted ratings for schools will be scrapped with immediate effect.
What was the previous Ofsted system?
So far, Ofsted has awarded one of four main grades to the schools it inspects: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.
What will happen during inspections this year?
For this school year’s inspections, the Department for Education (DfE) said parents will see the four grades – outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate – awarded across existing subcategories: quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management.
What about inspections next year?
School reports will be introduced from September 2025, which will “provide parents with a full and comprehensive assessment of schools’ performance and ensure inspections are more effective in driving improvement”, the DfE said.
Why are these changes being made?
Single sentence grades “fail to provide a fair and accurate assessment of the school’s overall performance in a number of areas and are supported by a minority of parents and teachers,” the DfE said.
She added that the change “meets the government’s mission to remove barriers to opportunity.”
The announcement also follows engagement with the sector and the family of headteacher Ruth Perry, after a coronial inquest found that Ofsted’s inspection process contributed to her death.
Ms Perry took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating of ‘outstanding’ to its lowest rating of ‘inadequate’ over safety concerns.
Support for Ofsted reform grows after death of chief executive Ruth Perry
What did Ruth Perry’s family say?
The family of headteacher Ruth Perry said they were “delighted and relieved” that the one-word Ofsted judgments had been removed.
Ms Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, said: “We are delighted and relieved that the Government has decided to take this important and long-awaited step.
“Single-word judgments are dangerous and reductive. They are unpopular with parents and teachers, and their simplistic impact has made the day-to-day work of improving educational standards harder for everyone except bureaucrats.
“The shame, injustice and serious consequences of an ‘inadequate’ judgment, together with the rude and intimidating conduct of the inspection itself, were the cause of my sister’s mental deterioration and her suicide.
“Single-word judgements are just the most visible feature of a fundamentally flawed inspection system. Ofsted’s reign of terror has caused untold damage to headteachers and school staff for too long, with a negative impact on children’s education.”
What about other educational contexts?
It is understood that the removal of single-grades for other Ofsted-inspected settings – independent schools, early years settings, colleges, children’s social care providers and initial teacher training – will follow.
Ruth Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, said the family were “delighted and relieved”
How will struggling schools be helped?
In schools where difficulties are identified, the government will prioritise putting in place plans to improve children’s education and experience, rather than relying on changing the way schools are run, the DfE said.
From early 2025, the government will also set up regional improvement teams that will work with struggling schools to address weak areas.
In the most serious cases, the government will continue to intervene, including by issuing an order to close the academy, which may in some cases involve a transfer to new management.
Ofsted will continue to identify those schools that have been judged to be inadequate.
The government also currently intervenes when a school receives two or more consecutive ‘requires improvement’ judgments under the ‘2RI’ policy.
With the exception of schools that are already due to convert to academies this term, this policy will change. The government will now put in place support for these schools based on a high-performing school.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, pictured in July, said the government would “make inspection a more powerful and transparent tool to improve driving schools”
What did the government say?
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “The need for Ofsted reform to drive high and rising standards for all our children in every school is crystal clear.
“The removal of primary grades is a generational reform and a historic moment for children, parents and teachers.
“Single grades are uninformative for parents and represent a significant challenge for schools. Parents deserve a much clearer and broader view of how schools are performing – that’s what our report cards will give them.”
“This government will make inspection a more powerful and transparent tool to improve driving schools. We promised changes and we are implementing them.”
The government said it would work closely with Ofsted and relevant sectors and stakeholders to “ensure the removal of top grades is implemented smoothly”.
How did the teacher groups react?
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “We have been clear that simplistic one-word judgements are damaging and we are pleased that the government has taken swift action to remove them.
“We are also pleased that the government intends to place greater emphasis on supporting schools to improve where they need help, rather than resorting to heavy-handed interventions or knee-jerk changes to governance structures.”
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “It is clear that the high-stakes system developed under the previous government was damaging, distracting and unfairly penalising schools for the system’s failures.
“For over a decade, the NASUWT has been calling for a move towards a balanced school report card system that would be informative for both parents and schools.
“While today’s announcements are an important step in the right direction, the fact remains that without comprehensive reform to repair the foundations of a broken accountability system, teachers and school leaders will continue to work in a system that remains imperfect.”
Education Secretary Damian Hinds said the main inspection was “a vital indicator”
What do the conservatives say?
In April, the previous Conservative government insisted the notes should be retained because they brought “significant benefits”.
And today, Education Secretary Damian Hinds said the main inspection result is “a vital indicator for parents” and removing it is “not in the best interests of pupils or parents”.
He said: “Ofsted already inspects the quality of schools in four key areas and provides an accompanying narrative, but the main inspection result is a key indicator for parents.
“The last Conservative government made significant changes to inspections and welcomed Ofsted’s Big Listen to further develop inspection practices so it can continue its vital work to improve school standards.
“While we are convinced that the system could be further improved, removing the result of the general inspection is not in the best interests of students or parents.”
Former Conservative education minister Nick Gibb warned: “If Ofsted’s decisions are not crystal clear, the danger is that they will cease to be taken into account by parents when they choose a school, and so the accountability system will be weakened. There is a risk that standards will fall overall.”
He added that there was also a risk that parents would not have “all the information they need to make a decision about their child’s education”.
When do schools start again?
Pupils in England and Wales are returning to class today or in the next few days. Schools in Scotland have already returned to school in mid-August.
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