Single-word Ofsted judgments for state schools scrapped and replaced by report cards aimed at improving standardsGood morning. The summer recess is over, parliament is back, the newish Labour government is still in its hyperactive ‘early days’ stage (although no one is using the word honeymoon any more) and Keir Starmer is celebrating his 62nd birthday by making a visit to publicise the government’s announcement about the abolition of single-word Ofsted verdicts for schools in England.This is a policy proposed in Labour’s manifesto, and it has been warmly welcomed by teaching unions who have long complained that single-word judgments were too crude. Pressure for their removal intensified after Ruth Perry, a primary school head, killed herself after learning that her school was going to be downgraded from outstanding (the best of four grades) to inadequate (the worst), even though Ofsted said it was giving pupils a good education, because of safeguarding errors.[The previous government] wouldn’t acknowledge that fear of inspection overwhelmingly related to the fear of consequences. I listened a lot to the sector. I knew that. So this a very interesting switch … I think this is beneficial for inspection, I think it’s beneficial for schools. I think it’s beneficial for parents and children …When you survey parents, generally, they like the simplicity and clarity [of one-word judgments]. Various surveys have showed stronger support from parents for models with overall effectiveness judgments. But, nevertheless, because of the weight of consequences that government had hung on them, they had become more of a problem than a help. Continue reading...
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