CHURCH education bodies have welcomed the Government’s decision to scrap the usage of one- or two-word grading for schools by Ofsted.
Before the change was announced on Monday, with immediate effect, schools were rated by Ofsted inspectors as either Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate.
The system had been criticised as lacking sensitivity and respect, after an inquiry last 12 months concluded that an Ofsted inspection had contributed to the death of a headteacher, Ruth Perry. She had taken her own life while waiting for the Ofsted report of her school — which she knew had been rated inadequate — to be published.
The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS), which inspects church schools on behalf of the Church’s National Society for Education and Methodist Church, switched from an identical system last 12 months, and now not grades schools with single words (News, 24 March 2023).
Dr Margaret James, director of SIAMS, said on Tuesday: “A 12 months from the removal of grades in SIAMS, the National Society now knows greater than ever before in regards to the strengths and development points in Church of England schools across the country.
“This is enabling the availability of meaningful and targeted training and support as an alternative of a less precious give attention to arbitrary grades. Inspection can play its part at school improvement so long as, with rigour, it produces relevant and insightful information.
“Feedback indicates that the overwhelming majority of college leaders found the experience of SIAMS to be each compassionate and difficult — possibly the perfect final result for all concerned.”
The Church of England’s chief education officer, the Revd Nigel Genders, welcomed the announcement. “Our SIAMS framework — which examines the Christian character of church schools — has already made that change, and has shown that compassionate accountability can coexist with rigorous standards.”
Later on Monday, the Prime Minister welcomed the brand new system. He denied that it might confuse parents. Instead it would offer a “richer picture” of a college’s strengths and weaknesses. “We’ll absolutely be pressing schools on standards, and I don’t accept that folks might be confused.”
