One word Ofsted judgements scrapped for schools across Northamptonshire.
The ranking system has been widely condemned by teachers for the pressure it puts on school leaders
Last updated 2nd Sep 2024
Single word Ofsted school rankings are going to be scrapped under new government plans to reform the system.
The ranking system has been widely condemned by teachers for the pressure it puts on school leaders.
Previously, Ofsted awarded one of four headline grades to schools it inspects: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.
'It's too simplistic'
Adam Cawte is Principle at Manor School in Northampton, he said: “It’s too simplistic a way of explaining what is a very complex process.
"It doesn’t really help parents as it doesn’t really give enough detail of what the school is like, and it makes a high stakes process for the schools that are involved. In that respect, it really does need to be reviewed more thoroughly."
Mr Cawte also explained that the previous grading system doesn’t help schools to improve, he said: “Having judgements as single word still do not help schools in terms of progressing and improving as a process of continual improvement.
“Really, they are symptomatic that the whole system needs a wholesale review to the education in this country.”
The announcement from government follows engagement with the sector and family of headteacher Ruth Perry, after a coroner's inquest found the Ofsted inspection process had contributed to her death.
Mrs Perry took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating, "outstanding", to its lowest rating, "inadequate", over safeguarding concerns.
Mrs Perry's sister, Professor Julia Waters, said: "We are delighted and relieved that the Government has decided to take this important and long-overdue step.
"Single-word headline judgments are dangerous and reductive. They are unpopular with parents and teachers, and their simplistic impact has made the daily job of improving school standards harder for everyone except the bureaucrats.
"The shame, injustice, and high-stakes consequences of an 'inadequate' judgement, together with the rude and intimidating conduct of the inspection itself, were the cause of my sister's mental deterioration and suicide.
"Single-word judgments are just the most visible feature of a fundamentally flawed inspection system. Ofsted's reign of terror has caused untold harm to headteachers and school staff for too long, with a negative impact on children's education."
For inspections this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) said parents will see the four grades - outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate - given across the existing sub-categories: quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management.