The branding of schools as “inadequate” or “outstanding” following an Ofsted inspection have been scrapped by the government.
So-called ‘single headline grades’ have been in the spotlight since the suicide of the headteacher Ruth Perry.
The Labour government has moved quickly to remove them, promising a “broader picture of how schools are performing”.
The single grades will be scrapped with “immediate effect” and instead be replaced by report cards with four grades across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership & management.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Single headline grades are low information for parents and high stakes for schools. Parents deserve a much clearer, much broader picture of how schools are performing – that’s what our report cards will provide.”
The move has been welcomed by teaching unions. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union said: “The idea that you could give a verdict on a whole school in one or two words was always ridiculous. The Secretary of State for Education is right to say that single headline grades are low information for parents and high stakes for schools.”
However, it has been criticised by the Conservatives, with shadow education secretary Damien Hinds saying: “Ofsted already inspects the quality of schools against four key areas and gives an accompanying narrative, but the headline inspection outcome is a vital indicator for parents.
“The last Conservative government made important changes to inspections and welcomed Ofsted’s ‘Big Listen’ to further evolve inspection practice, so it could continue its vital work in driving up school standards.
“While we do believe the system could be further improved, scrapping the headline inspection outcome is not in the best interest of pupils or parents.”
The move will be followed by the introduction of School Report Cards from September 2025, which is intended to provide parents with more data on how schools are performing.
In addition, the government is also changing its approach to ‘struggling schools’, with an emphasis on rapidly improving the education experience of children, rather than relying on changing the schools’ management.
Ruth Perry was headteacher of Caversham primary school in Reading. She committed suicide after her school was downgraded from ‘outstanding’ to ‘inadequate’ in January 2023.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, said: “The scrapping of overarching grades is a welcome interim measure. We have been clear that simplistic one-word judgements are harmful, and we are pleased the government has taken swift action to remove them.
“School leaders recognise the need for accountability but it must be proportionate and fair and so we are pleased to see a stronger focus on support for schools instead of heavy-handed intervention.”
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