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Ofsted refuses to drop ‘one-word assessments’ despite teachers' concerns
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) hand in a petition which has been signed by 45,000 people to the Department for Education in Westminster, central London.

OFSTED has not reflected on the concerns and harms that teachers have raised, the National Education Union (NEU) said today after the schools watchdog ruled out dropping “one-word assessments.”

Chief inspector Amanda Spielman described the ratings, which teachers across the country want scrapped, as “integral” to the school system.

The assessments range from “outstanding” to “inadequate.”

Ms Spielman’s claim followed the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who killed herself in January while awaiting an Ofsted report that downgraded her school from the highest rating to the lowest.

Ofsted is continuing inspections without a full mental health assessment for teachers.

Ms Spielman acknowledged the “strength of feeling” in the debate on reform and said that the inspectorate was “making changes,” but she rejected more “far-reaching suggestions.”

She said the watchdog was piloting changes to make the complaints process “more responsive,” so that school staff receive a “fair and thorough hearing” during inspections.

However, NEU joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said that Ofsted’s proposals “try to make a bad system more bearable, without making serious changes.”

She said: “It is clear … that Ofsted has not properly listened to, or reflected enough about, the concerns and harms that teachers and leaders have spoken out about for so long.

“Ofsted continues to be out of touch in its continued confidence in ‘single word’ judgements. 

“These headline grades are a significant factor in the reductive and stress-inducing approach that works against school improvement and that often contributes to a negative cycle for schools, particularly those serving the most disadvantaged communities.”

Dr Bousted said the NEU did not believe that Ofsted “delivers fair or reliable” grades to schools or that single-word judgements “benefit or accurately inform parents or carers.”

Ms Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, accused Ofsted of failing to offer a “meaningful response” to calls for reform following Ms Spielman’s statement.

Prof Waters said Ofsted had done “nothing” to prevent future tragedies and described Ms Spielman’s comments as “totally insensitive.”

She also said she had heard “nothing” from Education Secretary Gillian Keegan after she pledged on Monday to meet Ms Perry’s family.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said the grades had “had their day,” indicating that the union could take legal action against the watchdog over its refusal to suspend inspections following Ms Perry’s death.

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