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State colleges in England will cease receiving single-headline judgments on their efficiency from the schooling regulator “with speedy impact” because the Labour authorities strikes in direction of a brand new system of report playing cards.
The Division for Training on Monday mentioned it was axing Ofsted’s present regime, which charges schools as “excellent”, “good”, “requires enchancment” or “insufficient”, to “enhance transparency”.
Lengthy-standing issues amongst lecturers that the regime piled unmanageable stress on faculty workers got here to a head in January final yr after the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry, following a important report by the watchdog.
Lecturers and educating unions have lengthy complained that the system of headline grades was subjective, unrepresentative and troublesome to attraction.
Though the present system provides colleges a extra detailed multi-page evaluation, many dad and mom solely discover the extra simplistic definitions.
In April, the earlier Conservative authorities mentioned it was sticking with the system on the premise that there have been “important advantages” to retaining the general effectiveness grade.
However the Labour authorities, which promised to axe single headline grades in its common election manifesto, on Monday mentioned they had been “reductive”, failed to supply a good evaluation of general faculty efficiency throughout a spread of areas and had been supported by a minority of oldsters and lecturers.
Ministers mentioned report playing cards, to be launched from September subsequent yr, would “drive excessive and rising requirements” throughout all colleges.
The brand new system — whose design and content material shall be developed by intensive session with dad and mom and colleges — would give a “full and complete evaluation” of faculties’ efficiency, the federal government mentioned.
In the meantime, Ofsted inspections of state colleges this yr will return grades throughout 4 present subcategories; high quality of schooling, behaviour and attitudes, private improvement and management and administration.
The federal government mentioned that whereas single headline grades would solely be scrapped “with speedy impact” for state colleges, they’d finish for different Ofsted visits — corresponding to inspections of impartial colleges, schools and social care suppliers — at an unspecified future date.
“The elimination of headline grades is a generational reform and a landmark second for youngsters, dad and mom, and lecturers,” mentioned schooling secretary Bridget Phillipson.
“Single-headline grades are low info for folks and excessive stakes for colleges. Dad and mom deserve a a lot clearer, a lot broader image of how colleges are performing — that’s what our report playing cards will present,” she added.
Ministers mentioned the federal government would proceed to intervene in poorly performing colleges to make sure excessive requirements for youngsters, with “regional enchancment groups” working with struggling colleges from subsequent yr.
The DfE may also retain the proper to impose an “academy order”, which may see a faculty switch to new administration in probably the most critical circumstances
Paul Whiteman, common secretary of the Nationwide Affiliation of Head Lecturers union, mentioned lecturers would welcome the tip of single-headline grades.
“We have now been clear that simplistic one-word judgments are dangerous, and we’re happy the federal government has taken swift motion to take away them,” he mentioned. “Faculty leaders recognise the necessity for accountability nevertheless it should be proportionate and truthful.”
Julia Waters, sister of Ruth Perry, mentioned: “We’re delighted and relieved that the federal government has determined to take this vital and long-overdue step.
“Single-word headline judgments are harmful and reductive. They’re unpopular with dad and mom and lecturers, and their simplistic affect has made the day by day job of bettering faculty requirements tougher.”
