The UK government will act more swiftly to assist struggling schools, based on new findings from Ofsted report cards, according to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
She outlined plans for new regional teams with a budget of up to £100,000 per school, designed to help turn around the 600 “stuck” schools in England that have consistently received negative Ofsted ratings.
However, the newly proposed report cards have drawn strong backlash from school leaders, who fear the changes could “replicate the worst aspects of the current system.” Prof Julia Waters, whose sister Ruth Perry tragically took her own life after an Ofsted inspection, criticized the new system, saying it seemed to be a “rehash” of the discredited approach it aims to replace.
The introduction of these new report cards follows intense public debate over Ofsted’s practices after a coroner’s ruling that an inspection contributed to the death of primary school headteacher Mrs. Perry in 2023.
Support and Criticism of the Report Cards
Despite the criticism, Phillipson defended the report cards after her speech, arguing that parents want more detailed information about schools. She expressed satisfaction over the ongoing debate, saying, “That is how we shape the best education system.” Starting in the autumn term of 2025, Ofsted will introduce a report card system that evaluates schools on key aspects, such as:
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attendance
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
Each area will receive one of five possible grades: “causing concern,” “attention needed,” “secure,” “strong,” or “exemplary.” The grading system will place additional emphasis on how schools support disadvantaged and vulnerable students, considering the local context in which they operate. A separate section will address whether the school meets safeguarding requirements.
Concerns Over Pressure on Schools
Despite Ofsted’s intentions to provide more detailed information for parents, school leaders’ unions have expressed concern that the new system will put enormous pressure on schools, worsening the already severe recruitment and retention crisis in the teaching profession.
Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned that the proposed changes would create a “new league table” based on an overwhelming number of comparisons, which could confuse both teachers and parents.
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, added that the new system would do little to alleviate the immense pressure on school leaders. Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, criticized the five-point grading scale, saying it continues the “blunt, reductive approach” that fails to capture the complexity of school life or provide meaningful insights for parents.
Changes to the Inspection Process
In light of previous criticism over Ofsted’s inspection process, Sir Martyn Oliver, the head of Ofsted, has previously stated that the agency’s approach should be “far more empathetic.” This comment came after the inquest into Ruth Perry’s death, where the coroner ruled that the inspection at her school had been “unfair, disrespectful, and at times rude and intimidating.”
Earlier this academic year, Ofsted removed the practice of issuing an overall grade for schools, instead adopting a temporary system that grades individual aspects of a school’s performance. This change was made in preparation for the full implementation of the new report card system later this year.
Real-World Impact on School Leaders
Stuart Mycroft, headteacher at Castleway Primary in Wirral, was inspected under the current system in the autumn term. He shared his personal experience with the BBC, expressing doubt that Ofsted had truly changed. Despite receiving a “Good” rating, Mycroft said the inspection left him emotionally drained and “crying in his office.”
“The impact emotionally was huge,” Mycroft said. “I was absolutely exhausted.”
Next Steps for Ofsted
Ofsted’s consultation on the new report cards is open until 22 April. The organization plans to trial the new system in the coming months before fully rolling it out.
