Labour outlines plans to reform Ofsted

Shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said the aim of the report card would be to better enable parents to get an understanding of where a school is performing well, where they can do better,and the areas in which the school is improving.

In a speech to the Association of School and College leaders on the weekend, Phillipson said that ‘parents and schools deserve better than a system that is high stakes staff, but low information for parents’.

It follows research by the University of Southampton and UCL which found ‘significant inconsistencies’ in the grades Ofsted inspectors have been awarding to schools, with researchers warning that the current framework for inspections is ‘more subjective’ than before.

Labour also plans to introduce a new annual review of school safeguarding.

The shadow education secretary said, ‘The next Labour Government will bring a wind of change to our education system and drive forward reform of education and of childcare as part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity.

‘Because I am determined that under Labour the focus will again return, to how we deliver a better future for every child, through high and rising standards in every school. 

‘I will make no apology for being demanding for our children, and I want parents to be part of that wind of change through our classrooms: partners in the push for better.’

The National Education Union (NEU) said the proposed changes would be ‘welcome news to teachers and leaders across England.

Joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted commented, ‘For decades we have had a system that is punitive, unfair and unreliable and has led to staff leaving the profession in their droves. Bridget Phillipson's proposal to remove the four headline grades that Ofsted currently awards is a welcome step towards addressing these issues, bringing us more in line with countries such as Scotland and Wales. Removing the headline grades is needed wand would go beyond a reductive approach towards meaningful school evaluation and improvement.

‘We agree with Labour that parents and schools ‘deserve better’ from Ofsted. Any reforms to inspection must take seriously the excessive and intensive workloads teachers face, the costs of the surveillance model that Ofsted embodies and the effects on schools of its dogmatic approach to curriculum issues. It is vital that reforms must reduce the high stakes for staff, particularly for those staff in high poverty areas who are most unfairly impacted by the punitive inspection regime. England needs to move towards a system that is supportive, effective and fair. Safeguarding and health and safety are vital concerns and we are pleased to see them foregrounded.’