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Report card: Ofsted has ‘learned nothing’ from Ruth Perry’s death

Ofsted Inspection updates Accountability Government policy Senior leadership
Furious school leaders have accused Ofsted and the government of having “learned nothing” from the death of headteacher Ruth Perry after details of new inspection report cards were revealed.
Fait accompli? Ofsted's report card proposals will introduce a new five-point scale from Exemplary to Causing concern used to grade schools across at least eight areas of performance

With five new judgements applied across at least eight performance areas, critics say that the proposed new approach “creates a set of hurdles which will be bewildering for teachers and leaders”.

There are fears that it will introduce “a de facto new league table based on the sum of Ofsted judgements across at least 40 points of comparison”.

A consultation on the plans has now opened and will close on April 28. Ofsted has said it will publish the outcome in the summer with the final reforms to be implemented from autumn 2025.

It comes alongside a Department for Education consultation over proposed changes to intervention and support in state-funded schools, including new Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) teams. These plans are also to come into effect in the autumn (see later).

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