Ofsted has carried out some of its first inspections in the West Midlands since major changes were made to the way it grades schools. The education watchdog had given school one-word overall ratings under a long-established system which was scrapped by the new Labour Government in September.
Schools were previously given an overall rating of either outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. But critics argued the system had serious flaws and the picture at schools was often too complex to be summarised by a single word, which could do serious reputational harm to those deemed to be failing.
School will now no longer be given a single overall grade but rated instead in a number of different areas in an effort to provide clearer information and more context to parents. The terms outstanding, requires improvement, good and inadequate are still used but in more specific areas of schools.
READ MORE: Millions of drivers have no idea they are breaking the law every day
Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here
Schools are now judged in four areas: quality of education; leadership and management; behaviour and attitudes; and personal development. Primaries are also judged on early years provision.
Ofsted has published some of its new inspection grades after visiting several West Midlands schools over the last couple of months. Montgomery Primary Academy in Sparkbrook and St Bartholomew’s CoE Primary in Wolverhampton were both rated outstanding across all areas.
Birmingham
- St George’s CoE Primary Academy, Newtown – rated ‘good’ in all five areas
- Montgomery Primary Academy, Sparkbrook – rated ‘outstanding’ in all five areas
- The Oratory RC Primary, Ladywood – rated ‘inadequate’ for quality of education; leadership and management; and early years provision. Rated ‘good’ for behaviour and attitudes; and personal development
- Arena Academy (Secondary), Great Barr – rated ‘good’ in all four areas
Black Country