Back to school in a post-one-word-Ofsted-grade world

September means many things: the days are getting shorter, Halloween (and dare I say it, Christmas) decorations start appearing on shop shelves, and of course, students and teachers head back to school.

Source: The Independent, 2024

As a former teacher, I remember the back to school feeling well. For the most part, it was a time of excitement. Yes, there was the annual bad dream – standing in front of a class, with not one student paying me the slightest bit of attention – that would jolt me awake at 2am. But mostly, it was a time filled with the fun of buying new stationary, putting up new displays, agonising over seating plans, swapping holiday stories with colleagues I’d not seen for almost two months and inevitably agreeing that ‘it feels like such a long time ago already!’

This year, however, feels different- like we’ve stepped back into the 90s. We have a Labour government, Oasis are reuniting, even combats are back. But one significant thing is different: it’s the end of single word Ofsted judgements. Instead, schools will be graded in four areas (quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership) and eventually in 2025 they will receive a school report card which will give a more holistic view of how a school is performing.

It’s a long-overdue shift. One-word judgements have long been criticised for failing to capture what a school is actually like. A school that’s ‘outstanding’ for some children, may not work for others. Perhaps, a school excels in pastoral care but struggles to meet the needs of its students with SEND. The devastating impact of a negative report on teachers and SLT, as the tragic death of Ruth Perry’s death showed, reminds us of how much is at stake for teachers and staff who put their all into helping children and young people flourish.

I hope the new system will alleviate at least a tiny bit of stress that Ofsted inspections often bring and pave the way for a more supportive relationship between schools and the inspectorate. After all they should be an opportunity for reflection, growth and ultimately a time to celebrate the achievements of our teachers and schools.