Ofsted: Keir Starmer says scrapping one-word grades will not confuse parents (2024)

Published

2 September 2024

Ofsted's new system for grading schools in England will not cause confusion for parents, the prime minister said on Monday after announcing changes.

The practice of issuing an overall one or two-word grade - either Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate - has been scrapped with immediate effect.

Ofsted will continue to inspect schools against the same standards, but will now only issue gradings related to individual aspects of a school's performance.

Sir Keir Starmer rejected the suggestion the new system lacks the simplicity of the old one, and said it would provide parents with a "richer picture" of what a school does well, and where it requires improvement.

The prime minister said the move would strengthen accountability in schools, adding: "We'll absolutely be pressing schools on standards and I don't accept that parents will be confused."

He said the changes were about "driving up standards", adding he was "really pleased" to get them through so quickly.

While overall gradings have been scrapped from today, a new system whereby parents will be able to view a "report card" describing what inspectors have found at a school will not be rolled out until September 2025, after a consultation.

For inspections this academic year, parents will see grades across the existing sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

There has been fierce debate in the education profession for several years about whether one overall grade can sum up the complexity of a school.

It intensified after an inquest in 2023 found an inspection contributed to the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after learning her school was set to be deemed Inadequate.

Coroner Heidi Connor said in her verdict the "transparency and ease" of the overall grading system was not weighed against teacher welfare.

Mrs Perry's sister Prof Julia Waters has campaigned for the one or two-word judgements to be scrapped.

She told the BBC her entire family was "delighted" with the change, especially her late sister's teenage daughters.

On Monday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the previous system was not working for parents and the need for reform to drive up standards was "overwhelmingly clear".

She added she "won't hesitate to intervene" with struggling schools and new improvement teams will be set up in every area next year.

Ms Phillipson also told Radio 4's Today programme the changes would be funded by plans to remove tax breaks for private schools.

Parentkind chief executive Jason Elsom said it was important to make sure the planned report card system gives parents "greater clarity" about the performance of schools.

Paul Whiteman, the leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, said one-word judgements were "harmful", while the National Education Union's Daniel Kebede reiterated his calls for Ofsted to be scrapped completely.

There have also been calls for colleges and early years providers to be included in the changes, which only apply to schools.

However, shadow education secretary Damian Hinds said the headline inspection outcome was "a vital indicator for parents" and scrapping it is "not in the best interest of pupils or parents".

The changes announced on Monday only impact schools in England. Inspections in Wales are carried out by Estyn, external, in Scotland by Education Scotland, external, and in Northern Ireland by the Education and Training Inspectorate, external.

Twickenham Primary School in Birmingham was rated Good by Ofsted in October 2022 after an inspection process Helen Slack described as "absolutely awful".

"The pressure you feel yourself under is absolutely indescribable," she said.

"It feels like everything balances on that one word."

She told the BBC she is "one hundred percent" certain the removal of single-word judgements will have a positive effect, but wants the government to overhaul the system more comprehensively.

In Sheffield, Emma Wilkinson campaigned to have her daughter's school re-inspected after it was graded "Inadequate" in October 2022 over keeping children safe.

She said she is "really pleased" with the changes and now believes things are going in the right direction.

"If a teacher summed up your child in one word, how would you feel?" she said.

"I don't think it's helpful to sum anybody up in one word."

Ruth Perry, who was the head teacher of Caversham Primary School in Berkshire, took her own life in January 2023.

She was waiting for the publication of an Ofsted report she had already been told would grade the school Inadequate, after inspectors raised concerns about systems and training for keeping children safe.

An inquest later heard that no child had come to any harm and, despite this, Mrs Perry had been tormented by concerns she had let the local community down.

Under the current system, concerns about safeguarding lead to an automatic bottom grade, and often the head teacher losing their job.

At the start of 2024, a new chief inspector took over and Sir Martyn Oliver promised Ofsted would learn the lessons from Mrs Perry's death, announcing mental health training for inspectors.

Ofsted now revisits a school graded Inadequate over safeguarding within three months and an inspection can be be paused if a head teacher is in severe mental distress.

An independent review of Ofsted's response to Mrs Perry's death is expected to be published on 3 September, alongside further details of how inspections might change.

Prof Waters said the organisation needed to show it had the capacity to change its culture.

"It really shouldn’t have been like this – it shouldn’t take a bereaved family member to push for change for such a long time but yes it’s a relief that no other head teacher will have to go through what Ruth went through."

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