On 2nd September, I welcomed the new Labour Government’s Ofsted reforms, which will replace the one-word Ofsted schools headline judgements with a fairer, more transparent system.
Following the announcement by the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, the changes will mean that, instead of one-word judgements, by 2025, parents will be able to view a report card for schools. And, by early 2025, schools will be supported by Regional Improvement Teams, to provide schools in Suffolk and across the rest of the country with targeted, rapid support.
Whilst holding schools the same standard, this fairer grading system gives more information to parents, and reduces the high stakes for teachers and schools. This will help more holistically drive rising standards in schools and allow parents to make better decisions for their children.
The change follows a recommendation made by an all-party group of MPs in the previous Parliament, after the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. A subsequent inquest found an Ofsted inspection “contributed” to her death.
Given I was formerly Labour’s spokesperson for children’s services and education on Suffolk County Council and previously worked as a teaching assistant in a local high school, this is a cause that is very important to me.
This news was really welcome news ahead of the new school year, and are good for teachers, good for parents, and good for children, as our new Labour government looks to better support schools and improve educational outcomes for children in Ipswich, Suffolk and across the country.
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