A new Ofsted consultation has been launched this week on a new approach to inspecting education providers and the introduction of report cards.
The consultation finishes on 28th April 2025 and anyone interested is encouraged to share their views.
Shreeve: Will new grading system really deliver better info?
Commenting on new inspection proposals, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said,
“We were pleased, the Secretary of State removed damaging one-word Ofsted judgements from the inspection system. Overdue recognition that a more supportive system was necessary.
“Will the suggested new grading system really deliver better information for parents or schools? Even before the consultation, it was has being compared to a ‘Nando’s-style’ spice chart scorecard.
“The Ofsted Chief Inspector said: ‘Our new top ‘exemplary’ grade will help raise standards’. It won’t and he has ignored the Big Listen findings.”
Complexities of individual schools
He went on to say,
“The unique challenges and realities within every school need to be acknowledged and supported. One needs only to reflect on the Island’s at-risk primary schools consultation, to realise the complexity of individual schools. The new report card will be unable to capture the complexity of school life.
“Thus, the plan does not address the
- mental health impact of the current ‘high stakes’ accountability systems on staff or pupils. For example, Island primary staff started drilling SATs skills at the start of the new academic year. After school SATS-focused sessions continue later. Why so focussed on teaching to the ‘test’?
- complexity of individual school contexts – disadvantaged schools with high special needs numbers, rural schools, shortages of qualified staff, funding constraints etc.”
Obsessive labelling and ranking is not universally positive
Mr Shreeve added,
“Ofsted judgements currently tell us more about the measure of disadvantage in a school than anything else.
“If Newport FC were to play Liverpool, what would their Ofsted grade be?
“Football teams have unique challenges like schools. Obsessive labelling and ranking them is not universally positive. It’s goals from top teams that really dominate the game.
“Obsessive labelling and ranking of schools are counter-productive.
“P.S. We don’t know who would have won!”
