Schools in England are expected to be judged with a new 10-point ‘report card’ system after Labour scrapped single-word Ofsted ratings.
The major shakeup will see the education regulator give schools a colour-coded rating on each of the areas ranging from purple for ‘exemplary’ to red for ‘causing concern’.
The inspections will provide a verdict on each category on a five-point scale, rather than four levels of performance, allowing ‘more nuance’, according to proposals seen by the Financial Times.
The new scale would ‘signal a break from the past, not simply rebrand one-word judgments, and remove harmful language like ‘inadequate’,’ the proposals argue.
However, education leaders have raised concerns that the new plans are ‘over-complicated’ and the result of a ‘headlong rush’ to create a new system against a tight timetable.
It comes after school inspectors stopped branding school’s overall performance with the single word judgements ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ in September.
The system was scrapped by Labour after lobbying from teaching unions who said it put pressure on teachers and contributed to the tragic suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry last year.
The 53-year-old killed herself in January 2023, weeks after Ofsted inspectors said Caversham primary school in Reading was being downgraded from outstanding to the lowest grade inadequate.
Ofsted will judge schools using a 10-point report card system under a new shake-up (file photo)
The new model will replace the previous single-word ratings, which were scrapped by Labour in September (file photo)
Her inquest found that the inspection had contributed to Perry’s death, and described Ofsted’s conduct as ‘rude and intimidating’.
While some parents find the headline grading helpful when choosing schools for their children, teachers have long complained that it subjective and unrepresentative.
Sir Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector of Ofsted, has proposed grading schools on ten new areas using a five-point scale from exemplary, strong practice, secure, attention needed or causing concern.
These include curriculum, teaching, achievement, leadership, behaviour and values, attendance, preparation for next steps, opportunities to thrive, inclusion and belonging, and safeguarding.
The inclusion and belonging assessment would judge the extent to which schools include students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special needs.
An alternative proposal was said to have included a seven-point scale.
Ofsted and the Department for Education will launch a consultation on the new system in January ahead of its intended introduction in September 2025.
Until an interim system will see schools receive verdicts on the areas from the previous regime; quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
The Association of School and College Leaders said it was concerned the proposals were being rushed and ‘over-complicated’.
Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the ASCL, said: ‘It is fair to say that we are concerned about the apparent direction of travel which seems to us to be over-complicated.
‘It is already in the public domain that report cards will assess schools on a range of key areas. It is essential that this is done in a way that is fair, clear and simple.
‘The DfE and Ofsted must take the appropriate time necessary to bring the profession and parents with them so that any changes can be communicated and considered before landing in schools and colleges.
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver (pictured) has proposed grading schools on ten new areas using a five-point scale
‘While we cannot divulge the discussions taking place we are worried about what the DfE and Ofsted appear to have in mind.
‘It feels as though they are engaged in a headlong rush to devise a new system against a very tight timetable in order to have it up and running by next September.’
He added: ‘We’d support them if they wanted to take longer as it is vital to get this right.’
One senior figure in the education sector also criticised the new proposals as ‘really bad’ and said they would face pushback from school leaders.
‘School leaders’ entire identity is linked to the performance of the schools they run. If you’re branded ‘inadequate’ that can be incredibly shaming,’ they told the FT said.
‘Now it looks as though the system will be replaced with something even more punitive with even more areas for school leaders to be given damaging one-word judgments on.’
The Department for Education has refused to comment.