29 January 2024 , 00:01
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Ofsted must ditch one-word gradings as part of a wider inspections shake-up in the wake of the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, MPs have warned.
The work of the inspectorate has been under intense scrutiny since Mrs Perry took her own life in January after inspectors downgraded her primary school from outstanding to inadequate. An inquest in December said an inspection "likely contributed" to the death of Caversham Primary School headteacher.
In a report today, the Commons Education Committee said action was needed to tackle "widespread and deep concern" about the inspections system. MPs warned the "high-stakes nature" of Ofsted's inspections was leading to stress and anxiety for teachers.
It added: "It is clear that relations between Ofsted and the school sector, teachers, and leaders have become extremely strained and that trust in the inspectorate is worryingly low." The report said the Department for Education (DfE) and new Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver must urgently develop an alternative to the single-word judgements. It also called for a review of the support mechanisms available to school leaders during and after an inspection.
Committee chairman Robin Walker said: "The bulk of the evidence we received expressed widespread and deep concern about how the system works. We repeatedly heard that Ofsted has lost the trust of a significant chunk of the teaching profession, and leaders."
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The calls were welcomed by Mrs Perry's family. Professor Julia Waters, Mrs Perry's sister, said: "My family and I can only hope that this report and its recommendations will help to bring about the change needed to prevent other tragedies from occurring in the future."
Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who wants to replace single word grades with report cards, said: "Rebuilding the fractured relationship between schools, families and government will be a key priority for an incoming Labour government as part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity."
Tom Middlehurst, of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said single-word grades must be "consigned to history". He added: "It’s becoming increasingly clear that a more nuanced system can better inform schools and parents, while removing unnecessary pressure on staff."
But the National Education Union said the watchdog needed to be scrapped. Daniel Kebede, NEU General Secretary, said: "We need Ofsted to be replaced altogether by a system of inspection which is supportive, effective and fair. The inspectorate in its current form is none of these things."
A DfE spokesman said: "We have worked closely with Ofsted to make significant changes to ensure inspections help to keep children safe, whilst also prioritising the wellbeing of school leaders, including by recently expanding our wellbeing support for teachers. Ofsted's overall judgement succinctly summarises inspection findings which gives parents the confidence in choosing the right school for their child and provides a clear basis for taking action to improve underperforming schools."
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