Teachers are expressing strong disapproval towards a new grading system for schools, which they liken to a “Nando’s style” approach. The National Education Union (NEU) and the NAHT, representing headteachers, have criticized the system as “insulting” and posing risks to school leaders’ health.
The new inspection system by Ofsted, set to launch in November, will provide parents with more detailed information about their children’s education through revamped report cards. Schools in England will now be assessed across various areas, such as attendance, behavior, and inclusion, using a color-coded five-point scale with grades like ‘urgent improvement’, ‘expected standard’, and ‘exceptional’.
Moreover, inspections will prioritize provision for disadvantaged children, those with special educational needs or disabilities, and those under social care, with a specific focus on inclusion. The Department for Education is expanding RISE teams of school improvement experts to reach more schools and children.
Criticism of the new system has been fueled by concerns over its impact on workforce welfare and the punitive nature of grading. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson faces pressure to postpone the system’s rollout amid unresolved issues with Ofsted inspections. Unions and even Mrs. Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, have raised alarm about the negative effects of a grades-based inspection system.
While Ofsted claims that most parents prefer the new report cards, unions argue that the study’s sample size was limited. The NEU’s general secretary, Daniel Kebede, rejects the grading scale, stressing its detrimental effects on schools, workforce, parents, and students.
In response to criticisms, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver defends the new system as a way to enhance child safety and education quality. However, leaders in the education sector express grave concerns about the system’s potential harm to school leaders and teachers’ well-being.