The majority of the exceptional schools in England that were assessed last year have been demoted, according to a study by a watchdog for schools.
Some had not been evaluated in 15 years, and many would have undergone “substantial change,” such as the hiring of new principals, according to Ofsted.
However, according to the National Education Union (NEU), Ofsted’s results are “often unreliable.”
The Department of Education said that the majority of schools remained excellent or good.
Outstanding schools were evaluated only if specific problems were raised between 2012 and 2020.
Ofsted said that, of the 308 primary and secondary schools that it revisited last year and found to be outstanding, 80% had been degraded.
Most were downgraded to good, while 17% were told to improve, and 4% were deemed inadequate.
Last year, when determining which schools to inspect, Ofsted claimed it had given priority to schools that had gone the longest without being inspected.
On average, the schools it visited had not been examined for 13 years; however, some had not been inspected for 15 years.
“Uninformed examination”
Ofsted’s chief inspector Amanda Spielman stated: “These are the schools that have not been examined for the longest period, therefore they are probably marginally less likely to remain outstanding.”
She stated that it is essential for parents to understand that the majority of schools have remained “excellent,” but that it is “worrisome that a considerable number have been identified as needing improvement.”
She stated that there was no aim for the number of great schools.
MPs later asked Ms. Spielman whether there had been too many outstanding ratings in the past, to which she said, “The numbers had gotten quite high, uncomfortably high.” And the previous inspection system “probably emphasized process above substance.”
Kevin Courtney, co-general secretary of the NEU, stated that Ofsted’s findings are “often incorrect and invalid.”
Far from establishing the effectiveness of Ofsted, this report demonstrates that the inspectorate has no materially good impact on schools.
He claimed that Ofsted was “pushing away good teachers” and that “punitive and ill-informed inspection” was delaying progress.
Rapidly enhanced
The Institute for Fiscal Studies stated in last week’s Autumn Statement that an increase in financing for the next two years would only return per-pupil spending to its 2010 level.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education stated that the government had “rapidly improved school standards due to the hard work of school leaders.”
Today, 87 percent of schools are ranked as good or excellent, up from 68 percent in 2010, he said.
The spokesman noted that Ofsted intended to inspect every school by the summer of 2025.
During Ofsted inspections, inspectors observe lessons and speak with students and teachers.
The ratings of schools and colleges are searchable on the government’s website.
