Ofsted plan for reform 'worse than old system'

Proposals to overhaul the way that schools are inspected in England have been attacked by headteachers and teaching unions as "demoralising", and worse than the system they are intended to replace.

- Richard Adams

The reforms by the Ofsted schools inspectorate would replace single judgments such as "outstanding" with a new report card for parents. They will be unveiled today by Ofsted's chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, at the launch of a public consultation.

But the leaders of England's education unions have derided key aspects of the proposals, alongside the family of Ruth Perry, the primary school headteacher whose suicide after an "intimidating" Ofsted inspection precipitated Labour's pledge to scrap the use of headline grades.

The new system would grade schools, nurseries and colleges in eight areas on a five-step scale, ranging from"exemplary" to "causing concern", alongside a separate evaluation of whether safeguarding standards were met. Inspections currently look at four to six areas, including safeguarding, on a four-step scale from "outstanding" to "inadequate".

Despite months of discussion by Ofsted, many of the proposals have been rejected as bewildering and ineffective by union leaders, leaving the reforms in disarray at the start of the 12-week consultation.

Oliver said the new report card would be fairer and more balanced, reducing the strain on schools and teachers by using "a laser light instead of a floodlight" to focus on key areas during inspections.