One-word Ofsted reviews for form schools are being discarded with immediate results in a move that has been called a “landmark point for children”.
Previously, the instruction watchdog granted one of four faults to schools it reviews: outstanding, right, requires modification, and flawed.
From this educational year, four grades will be granted across the existing sub-categories: rate of instruction, manners and attitudes, personal growth, and administration and control, the Department for Education (DfE) has revealed.
School report cards will be presented in September 2025, which will supply parents with a “thorough assessment of how academies are performing and provide that reviews are more practical in driving progress”, it added.
The transformation follows arrangement with the instruction sector and home of headteacher Ruth Perry, who brought her vitality after an Ofsted statement devalued her Caversham Primary School in Reading from “excellent” to “flawed” over safeguarding matters.
Last year, a coroner’s inquest discovered the assessment process had contributed to her death.
The DfE said “reductive” single-word grades “fail to deliver a fair and accurate estimate of overall school version” and the difference will help “break down borders to chance”.
As part of the statement today, the administration said it will prioritize progress plans for schools recognized as struggling, rather than depending on changing direction.
Ofsted Judgements
From early 2025, provincial improvement groups will be taught to work with underperforming academies to manage areas of weakness.
In cases of the most profound concern, where academies would have been place inadequate, the country will continue to intercede.
This could have issued a school order. Which powers maintained schools to become an institute and which may in some scenarios mean transferring to further control. The DfE said.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated: “The requirement for Ofsted reform to move high and increasing standards for all our kids in every academy is overwhelmingly obvious.
“The removal of headline rates is a reform and a milestone moment for kids, parents, and educators.”
She counted that single headline qualities are “low details for parents and high stakes for academies”.
“Parents deserve a much more precise. Much more comprehensive picture of how academies are functioning. That’s what our report cards will deliver.
“This administration will have a more careful check. We pledged change, and now we are having.”
Ofsted Reforms ‘could go further’
The information comes as pupils produce to the classroom this week.
The reduction of single headline rates will apply to form schools due to be review this educational year. With other locations like separate schools and colleges hope to follow.
The projects have been accept by teaching associations, who have long reach for reform.
Paul Whiteman, public secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, stated. “We have been obvious that simplistic one-word reviews are harmful. We are happy the country has taken swift action to release them.”
However, NASUWT public secretary Dr. Patrick Roach said that while the new administration has “made the correct decision.” It could move further and “end the misconception that academy transformation. It is the only route to ensuring the progress our schools must”.
“Whilst today’s reports are a significant step in the right approach. It remains the case that in the lack of root and department reform to fix the bases of the broken responsibility system. Teachers and school administrators will resume working in a system that stays flawed,” he stated.
