Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, has welcomed the new Labour Government’s Ofsted reforms which will replace the one-word Ofsted schools headline judgements with a fairer, more transparent system.
Announced by Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, today, the changes will mean that, instead of one-word judgements, by 2025, parents will be able to view a report card for schools. This move, according to research commissioned by the Laidlaw Foundation, found it is backed by 77% of parents.
Labour’s fairer grading system
Schools will now be assessed on specific aspects such as the quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership, with these changes initially applying to state schools and later to independent schools, early years settings, colleges, and children’s social care providers.
Despite concerns about reduced oversight, the government confirmed its commitment to intervening in underperforming schools to maintain high standards. From early 2025, where issues are identified, new Regional Improvement Teams will work closely with schools across Suffolk and the rest of the country, with targeted, rapid support. Their aim will be to address weaknesses, and in severe cases, schools may still face intervention, such as issuing academy orders.
Report cards to replace one-word judgments
While holding schools to 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. With immediate effect, the four judgements: “outstanding”, “good”, “requires improvement” and “inadequate” will be removed as an interim measure.
Education unions and teachers have welcomed this overhaul of the inspection process, a reform promised by Labour before the recent election. The change follows a recommendation made by an all-party group of MPs in the previous Parliament, after headteacher Ruth Perry took her own life in 2023. A subsequent inquest found an Ofsted inspection “contributed” to her death.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, says: “We have been clear that simplistic one-word judgments are harmful, and we are pleased the government has taken swift action to remove them.
“School leaders recognise the need for accountability, but it must be proportionate and fair, and so we are pleased to see a stronger focus on support for schools instead of heavy-handed intervention.”
Phillipson: a landmark moment for education
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, says the government will make inspection a more powerful and more transparent tool for driving school improvement. “The need for Ofsted reform to drive high and rising standards for all our children in every school is overwhelmingly clear,” she says. “The removal of headline grades is a generational reform and a landmark moment for children, parents, and teachers.”
She believes that “single headline grades” provide little information to parents while being high stakes for schools. Phillipson adds: “Parents deserve a much clearer, much broader picture of how schools are performing – that’s what our report cards will provide. We promised change, and now we are delivering.”
Jack Abbott was formerly Labour’s spokesperson for children’s services and education on Suffolk County Council and has previously worked as a teaching assistant in a local high school. “This is really welcome news ahead of the new school year,” he says. “These reforms 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.”
While some critics, including some Conservatives believe removing the headline ratings might not serve the best interests of students and parents, the move has been hailed by education professionals as a step toward more transparent and supportive school assessments. The government’s full plan for schools: “Break down barriers to opportunity” can be found here.
This article is based on a press release by Jack Abbott.
