The former head of Ofsted has warned 90 per cent of schools ranked 'good' or 'outstanding' have been given the grading to offer 'false' comfort to parents.
Sir Michael Wilshaw says the watchdog's claims that the majority were upholding education's highest standards is 'complete nonsense'. Figures from the Department for Education show that almost nine in ten state schools were given a satisfactory mark during their latest inspection.
He told the Commons' education committee that it is simply not correct to suggest that all the schools awarded the ranking should have been. Mr Wilshaw believes that in some cases they have been given the 'good' to simply ease mums and dads' concerns.
His remarks come amid calls for the blunt judgements to be scrapped following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry (Brighter Futures for Children)"Ofsted says that nearly 90 per cent of schools are good but that's nonsense, complete nonsense," he told MPs before going on to say: "Having seen some of the schools judged good over the last few years, I would not say they were good.
"When I've been into some of these schools and then looked at the report I've felt like going to Specsavers and getting another pair of glasses because they were not good. It is giving false comfort to parents," the inspectorate's former boss went on.
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His comments come following mounting calls for the blunt one-word classifications to be shelved following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry. Her death sparked calls to scrap Ofsted, which has been accused of causing 'widespread anxiety, stress and ill health'. She was head at Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, and killed herself in January.
Relations between schools and the watchdog have dramatically deteriorated since her tragic death, with teaching unions warning the inspections regime "isn't fit for purpose". Earlier this year, Ms Perry's sister Ms Waters said: "Ruth took her own life on January 8, all during that process every time I spoke to her, she would talk about the countdown."
Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said the "whole school accountability system" was built around the one-word judgements. She explained it would be "down to government" to decide to change that but they wouldn't back a complete overhaul.
"We could write a sentence that captured all the things that typically are reflected in an inadequate judgement and use that - but the feedback when we talk to people is they know that if the consequences are the same, if the significance of it is the same, it would come to mean exactly the same very quickly," she said.
Ofsted declined the opportunity to comment. A Department for Education spokesperson said: "One word inspection grades succinctly summarise independent evaluations on the quality of education, safeguarding, and leadership which helps to give parents confidence in choosing the right school for their child.”
The Education Support programme, which provides wellbeing help for school leaders, will be doubled in size to support 500 more headteachers by March 2024, Ofsted said. Mrs Spielman insisted the watchdog was listening to concerns listening to the concerns raised in the wake of Ms Perry's death and has been "thinking carefully about how we can revise aspects of our work without losing our clear focus on the needs of children and their parents".
NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said earlier this year: "It has taken far too long for the government and Ofsted to announce this relatively modest set of measures and school leaders remain immensely frustrated at the lack of urgency and ambition being shown. NAHT continues to call for more fundamental reform of the inspection process. While the Government insists on consigning schools to simplistic single-word judgements, the system will remain fundamentally flawed and put unnecessary pressure on school leaders."
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
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