UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed colour-coded Ofsted grades from November, rejecting union calls to delay over teacher wellbeing fears.
As reported by The Telegraph, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has confirmed plans to scrap single-word Ofsted judgments, drawing criticism from unions.
According to her, Ofsted’s colour-coded report cards will roll out in November with the goal of improving standards.
How unions warn that new Ofsted report cards could harm teachers?
Unions have criticised the plan, warning it piles pressure on teachers and leaves parents facing a confusing system. They warned Bridget Phillipson to delay the reforms, citing a “very real risk” of further preventable tragedies.
In its manifesto, Labour pledged to reform Ofsted after Ruth Perry, a head teacher, took her own life in 2023 when her school was downgraded from “outstanding” to “inadequate.”
Under the new Ofsted system, schools in England will no longer receive single-word judgments, but instead be graded with colour codes across areas such as behaviour and teaching.
Critics argue that the system will force parents to navigate a complex spectrum of grades, ranging from red for “urgent improvement” to blue for “exceptional.” The system has been compared to Nando’s “peri-ometer,” which grades chicken from green “extra mild” to brown “extra hot.”
In a joint appeal to Ms Phillipson, unions and Prof Julia Waters, sister of Ruth Perry, warned that the new system continues to threaten teachers’ health and wellbeing. They argued the new scheme risked “publicly shaming” school leaders and pressed the Education Secretary to halt its implementation.
Ofsted is formally independent, but the reforms were driven through by the Education Secretary after unions stepped up pressure before the election.
In recent months, Ms Phillipson has sought to draw a line between herself and teaching unions, after accusations she gave in to their pay demands last summer, sparking fresh claims this year.
What did Prof Julia Waters say about Ofsted’s new reforms?
Prof Julia Waters, in another statement, criticised the reforms as an “over-complicated mishmash” and dismissed them as a “wasted opportunity” for real progress.
She stated,
“This is not a new system. This is a cosmetic rebranding, tweaking and expansion of the same unreliable and punishing system as the one before.”
Ms Waters added,
“I call on Bridget Phillipson to halt the rollout of these confusing and potentially dangerous proposals.”
The move is expected to pose difficulties for Ms Phillipson, who insists the changes were introduced with Mrs Perry’s relatives in mind and has spoken with Prof Waters since joining the Cabinet.
What did Bridget Phillipson say about new school report cards?
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said,
“Every child deserves a brilliant education – and that means a system that’s relentlessly focused on strong accountability that puts children first.”
She stated,
“New school report cards will raise the bar for standards across the board, shining a light on what’s working and where change is needed. By providing a fuller picture of school performance – from attendance and behaviour to inclusion – we’re giving parents the transparency they deserve and schools the tools to improve.”
Ms Phillipson added,
“From school inspection to new technology, to experts who have been there and done it – through our Plan for Change, we will use every lever we can to boost the life chances of our children and ensure aspiration is not just the preserve of some, but the right of each and every young person, wherever they grow up.”
What did Laura Trott say about Labour’s Ofsted overhaul?
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott accused Labour of dismantling school accountability measures in a bid to “play to the tune of unions.”
She said,
“They’re replacing the rigorous inspections that were key to improving our schools with a hollow, watered-down system.”
Ms Trott added,
“The old Ofsted model gave parents and teachers clarity through simple, one-word judgments. Labour’s new approach is muddled, built on an inferior inspection framework, will leave more children in failing schools and pleases no one.”
What did Sir Martyn Oliver say about one-word ratings?
Sir Martyn Oliver, the head of Ofsted, rejected claims that replacing one-word ratings could create space for third parties to repackage the new school report cards into simplified rankings.
He added,
“I fundamentally don’t believe there’ll be a need for anybody to take it further and to start to aggregate numbers. Because that’s the point, it’s about seeing strengths and areas of improvement.”
Mr Oliver had earlier suggested the changes might disrupt housing platforms such as Rightmove, which display school Ofsted ratings to potential buyers.
Lee Kane’s views on the RISE programme
Lee Kane, headteacher at Astor Secondary School in Dover, stated,
“We are really excited to be a part of RISE; it feels like a bit of an accolade. I think some might assume it is just another department initiative – a passing trend. But, in our view, it is absolutely not that.”
She said,
“Our involvement has seen us partnered with Mulberry Schools Trust and, together, we have established a working partnership focused on key fundamentals and on co-producing agreed initiatives and adaptations that will ensure sustainability beyond the programme.”
Ms Kane added,
“It has provided the framework for us to share expertise, trial new strategies, and reflect on their impact in a genuinely collaborative way. Being part of RISE will help us create something enduring.”
Key facts about the current grading system for GCSEs
GCSEs now use a 9–1 scale, with 4 as a standard pass and 5 as a strong pass. The system creates more differentiation, with grade 9 harder to achieve than the old A*.
The curriculum is more demanding, and final exams at the end of Year 11 are the main form of assessment. These changes aim to better distinguish high-performing students.