Ofsted should ditch one-word gradings as a part of a wider inspections shake-up within the wake of the dying of headteacher Ruth Perry, MPs have warned.
The work of the inspectorate has been underneath intense scrutiny since Mrs Perry took her personal life in January after inspectors downgraded her major faculty from excellent to insufficient. An inquest in December stated an inspection “likely contributed” to the dying of Caversham Primary School headteacher.
In a report as we speak, the Commons Education Committee stated motion was wanted to sort out “widespread and deep concern” concerning the inspections system. MPs warned the “high-stakes nature” of Ofsted’s inspections was resulting in stress and nervousness for lecturers.
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 stated the Department for Education (DfE) and new Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver should urgently develop an alternative choice to the single-word judgements. It additionally referred to as for a evaluate of the help mechanisms accessible to highschool leaders throughout and after an inspection.
Committee chairman Robin Walker stated: “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.”
The calls have been welcomed by Mrs Perry’s household. Professor Julia Waters, Mrs Perry’s sister, stated: “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 desires to exchange single phrase grades with report playing cards, stated: “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), stated single-word grades should 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 stated the watchdog wanted to be scrapped. Daniel Kebede, NEU General Secretary, stated: “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 stated: “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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