Ofsted’s controversial single-word judgments are right here to remain, the federal government has dominated, in a blow to campaigners who hoped they might be scrapped after the suicide of the first faculty headteacher Ruth Perry.
Perry’s sister, Prof Julia Waters, reacted with fury to the federal government’s assertion, printed on Thursday in response to an inquiry into Ofsted by MPs on the Commons training committee, describing it as “woefully insufficient”.
She lambasted the training secretary, Gillian Keegan, accusing her of going “to nice lengths to be seen to be listening”, then failing to behave.
“This isn’t the time for extra delays and lip service,” Waters stated. “It’s time to act, to avoid wasting lives, and create a system during which dad and mom and academics can have faith.”
Perry’s household, backed by unions and the educating occupation, are demanding radical reform of the colleges inspectorate in England and have expressed specific concern about Ofsted’s headline rankings, describing them as “reductive”, “deeply dangerous” and “inhumane”.
Perry, who was the headteacher of Caversham main in Studying, killed herself in January 2023 after her faculty was downgraded from the best rating, “excellent”, to the bottom, “insufficient”, after a go to by faculty inspectors.
Berkshire’s senior coroner dominated that her suicide was “contributed to by an Ofsted inspection”, after an inquest heard testimony from colleagues and medical professionals concerning the psychological misery Perry suffered throughout and after the inspection.
MPs on the Commons training committee ended up agreeing with Perry’s household that the federal government ought to cease the usage of single-word judgments and undertake a extra “nuanced” system.
Hopes had been raised over the weekend that their pleas had been heard when the Sunday Instances printed a narrative suggesting the single-word judgments had been prone to be scrapped. On Thursday, nonetheless, the federal government stated it was sticking with the system, claiming there have been “important advantages” to retaining the general effectiveness grade.
It stated Ofsted’s 4 headline grades – insufficient, requires enchancment, good and excellent – offered “a succinct and accessible abstract for fogeys”. Additionally they allow the federal government to take a look at inspection outcomes throughout England.
“So whereas the federal government will proceed to take heed to views and have a look at various programs, together with the assorted approaches taken internationally, the federal government’s view is that there are important advantages from having an Ofsted total effectiveness grade,” the assertion stated.
Waters responded: “It is extremely tough for me and my household to see the federal government seek advice from my sister by identify, after which so clearly fail to reply to the various necessary classes from her dying, that the coroner and the training committee have raised.
“Having initially gone to nice lengths to be seen to be listening, Gillian Keegan and her division have now made it clear that they both haven’t heard what our considerations really are, or are unwilling or unable to behave on them.”
She stated the small tweaks to the “present, harmful system” supplied to this point didn’t go anyplace close to far sufficient. “It’s miserable to see the federal government nonetheless defending features of the inspection system, resembling single-word judgments, which can be so dangerous, divisive and counterproductive.”
Educating unions shared her disappointment. Paul Whiteman, the final secretary of the NAHT faculty leaders’ union, stated: “It smacks of a authorities that’s out of contact with dad and mom and professionals alike. Single-word judgments don’t ‘present important profit’ – they’re deeply dangerous and have to be scrapped totally.”
The Ofsted chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, launched the watchdog’s Massive Pay attention public session final month, inviting views concerning the inspectorate.
A spokesperson stated: “Ofsted goals at all times to be a pressure for good on this nation, making certain colleges, kids’s properties, nurseries and schools ship the best requirements of training and care to kids. However we all know we will enhance.”
A Division for Schooling spokesperson stated: “The secretary of state has been clear that we are going to proceed to think about methods to enhance the present system, together with worldwide approaches, and we’re trying ahead to listening to the views of academics, dad and mom and youngsters via the Massive Pay attention.”