Teachers are expressing strong disapproval towards a new grading system for schools, likened to a “Nando’s style,” which will be implemented by Ofsted in November. The National Education Union (NEU) and NAHT, representing teachers and headteachers respectively, have criticized the new inspection system as “insulting” and posing a direct risk to school leaders’ well-being.
In a recent announcement, Ofsted disclosed plans to provide parents with more detailed information about their children’s education through revamped report cards starting November. As part of a significant revamp of the school inspection system, schools in England will now be assessed in various areas such as attendance, behavior, and inclusion using a color-coded five-point scale. The grading scale includes categories like ‘urgent improvement,’ ‘needs attention,’ ‘expected standard,’ ‘strong standard,’ and the new top grade ‘exceptional.’
Each inspection will also focus on support for disadvantaged children, those with special educational needs, and those under social care, with a specific grade dedicated to inclusion. Additionally, the Department for Education is expanding the reach of school improvement experts called RISE teams to cover 377 schools and nearly 100,000 more children starting this term.
Critics, including Daniel Kebede from NEU, argue that the new grading system is detrimental to children, parents, and the education system, emphasizing the negative impact of a grades-based inspection approach. They highlight concerns about pressure, competition, and labels associated with the new system.
Despite Ofsted’s claim that a majority of parents favor the new report cards, unions have raised objections, citing the small-scale nature of the study involving only 1,090 parents. The concerns have prompted calls to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to reconsider the rollout of the new system, emphasizing unresolved issues with Ofsted’s inspection methods.
The debate over the new grading system stems from previous controversies, including the tragic suicide of a headteacher following an unfavorable Ofsted report. Critics argue that the reformed system could exacerbate existing challenges and negatively impact the well-being of school leaders and teachers. Ofsted, on the other hand, maintains that the new report cards aim to enhance transparency and inform parents about their children’s learning environments.