In its response to a damning Education Select Committee report, Ofsted said that the decision over the future of single-word judgements was one for the Department for Education (DfE).
MPs on the select committee had called on Ofsted to “develop an alternative” to the current system, which it called “reductive and simplistic”.
But Ofsted’s formal response to the committee, published last week, offered little on the subject other than a commitment to “engaging with them (the DfE) on all relevant matters”.
The MPs want to see a new system that will “better capture the complex nature of a school's performance”. In its response, Ofsted revealed it was working on making changes to its website to show “the full range of judgements, not just overall effectiveness grades” – another of the select committee’s recommendations. However, it had nothing of note to say about single-word judgements.
The MPs’ report in January was stark, detailing how the preparation required for Ofsted inspection can feel “crushing” and “relentless” for school staff. They demanded action from Ofsted to tackle what they called the “unacceptable burden” of inspection.
Ofsted has already been forced into implementing a number of reforms following the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry. The inquest into her death ruled that the 2022 inspection of her school “lacked fairness, respect and sensitivity”, was at times “rude and intimidating”, and had “contributed” to her suicide.
These included mental health training for all inspectors, new procedures to allow inspections to be paused and of “rapid returns” to schools judged “inadequate” due solely to ineffective safeguarding, and changes to complaints procedures.
Ofsted has also launched its Big Listen consultation exercise, which is to run for 12 weeks until May 31 and which the inspectorate has pledged will tackle many of the issues raised both by MPs on the select committee and the inquest into Ruth Perry’s death.
Ofsted’s response to the select committee said: “Nothing is off the table … we know we will hear a range of views, including criticism. This criticism is vital to hear, reflect on and learn from.”
Specific recommendations in the select committee report that Ofsted has pledged will be addressed after the Big Listen exercise include:
- Fully understanding the causes of inspection-related workload pressure.
- Longer notice periods before inspection (of at least five days) – although Ofsted stated in its response that “we are happy to consider potential changes to our notice periods for schools”.
- A reduction in the frequency of inspections to five/six years for good and outstanding schools and three/four years for others.
- Increasing the length and depth of analysis provided in inspection reports.
- Ensuring inspectors have the relevant expertise for the phase and subjects they are inspecting.
Ofsted said last week that its Big Listen will tackle four distinct areas of its work:
- How Ofsted reports on its findings.
- How Ofsted carries out inspections.
- How Ofsted can have a positive impact in the sectors it inspects.
- What Ofsted needs to do to be a world-class inspectorate and regulator, trusted by parents, children and the sectors it works with.
Elsewhere in its response to MPs, Ofsted has confirmed it will review its risk assessment model which is used to determine which schools should be prioritised for inspection. Ofsted has also agreed to publish its training materials for inspectors.
The MPs also called for Ofsted to consider longer, more in-depth inspections. Ofsted again said this was a matter for the DfE. However, it did state that one way of achieving this would be to ensure that every inspection is led by an HMI with an additional inspector on the team.
However, its response adds: “This change would provide a number of additional benefits, including allowing for more time to explore the school’s unique approach or allowing for a dedicated focus on a national priority area on every inspection. Delivering this additional depth in school inspections would have a direct cost of £8.5m per year.”
However, responding this week, the Association of School and College Leaders, said that scrapping single-word judgements would make a “huge difference without costing a penny”.
Its inspection specialist Tom Middlehurst also welcomed the launch of the Big Listen: “We note their promise to address many of the select committee’s recommendations immediately after this exercise concludes. It’s vital that this results in the major reforms that the inspection system requires. Some of these changes, including scrapping single-phrase judgements, can only be enacted by government and therefore the DfE needs to be listening just as intently.”
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, also urged action on single-word judgements: "There will be real disappointment and consternation that Ofsted hasn’t addressed single-word judgements, despite the cross-party select committee having asked Ofsted to develop an alternative to these blunt verdicts.
“The single-word judgements have a deeply detrimental impact, including too much pressure on individual leaders. They cause experienced and much needed staff to leave schools in deprived areas. It’s not going to be possible to keep, and attract, enough talented school leaders without change to this narrow aspect of the system. They actively undermine equity in our school system.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary at the National Association of Head Teachers, added: “The single most important recommendation was that Ofsted and government should work together to develop an alternative to the use of single-word judgements. Ofsted must not shy away from this work. We recognise that this will require engagement with the DfE and encourage Ofsted to start that work immediately.
“The current system of grading is causing enormous harm and not giving parents the information they need – the work to develop an alternative cannot start soon enough.”
Launching the Big Listen last week, Sir Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector, said: “We need to listen to feedback. To criticism. To ideas for small changes and for big reforms.
If your work, your children, your decisions, your education or your care are impacted by what we do, we want to hear from you. Every voice will be heard, and nothing is off the table.
- Ofsted: Ofsted's response to the Education Select Committee, March 2024: www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsteds-response-to-the-education-select-committee
- Ofsted: Open consultation: Ofsted Big Listen, March 2024 (consultation closes May 31, 2024): www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ofsted-big-listen