New Ofsted report cards criticised by teaching unions

London: The government recently decided to change how schools are inspected. They scrapped the one-word ratings and will now use a more detailed report card system.

This shift comes after a tragic incident involving headteacher Ruth Perry. A coroner found that an Ofsted inspection played a role in her death last year.

Ruth’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, is worried. She thinks the new system might just repeat the mistakes of the old one.

Teaching unions are not happy about the proposed changes. They believe the new color-coded report cards could create more stress for schools.

Ofsted plans to launch a consultation on the new inspection process soon. This will include schools of all types, even further education institutions.

The new report cards will replace the old grading system. Instead of just “Outstanding” or “Inadequate,” schools will be rated on a scale of 1 to 5.

These ratings will cover various areas like achievement, attendance, and leadership. Safeguarding will also be assessed separately.

Ofsted is already training inspectors for these changes, which are set to roll out in the autumn. Chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver believes this will help parents understand school performance better.

However, some school leaders worry this new system will add pressure. They fear it could worsen the ongoing recruitment crisis in teaching.

Pepe Di’Iasio from the Association of School and College Leaders expressed concerns about creating a new league table. He thinks it will confuse teachers and parents alike.

Others, like Paul Whiteman from the National Association of Head Teachers, agree. They feel the new system won’t ease the pressure on school leaders.

Daniel Kebede from the National Education Union also criticized the five-point scale. He believes it oversimplifies the complexities of school life.