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| Ofsted downgrades hundreds of outstanding schools in England | Ofsted downgrades hundreds of outstanding schools in England |
| (4 months later) | |
| Most of the outstanding schools in England inspected last year have been downgraded, according to a report from the schools watchdog. | Most of the outstanding schools in England inspected last year have been downgraded, according to a report from the schools watchdog. |
| Some of them had not been looked at for 15 years and many would have experienced "significant change" such as new head teachers, Ofsted said. | Some of them had not been looked at for 15 years and many would have experienced "significant change" such as new head teachers, Ofsted said. |
| But the National Education Union (NEU) said Ofsted's findings were "frequently unreliable". | But the National Education Union (NEU) said Ofsted's findings were "frequently unreliable". |
| The Department for Education said most schools remained good or outstanding. | The Department for Education said most schools remained good or outstanding. |
| Money for schools, care and NHS - but is it enough? | Money for schools, care and NHS - but is it enough? |
| How much are teachers paid and will they strike? | How much are teachers paid and will they strike? |
| Between 2012 and 2020, schools judged outstanding were revisited only if specific concerns were raised. | Between 2012 and 2020, schools judged outstanding were revisited only if specific concerns were raised. |
| Ofsted said 80% of outstanding schools it had revisited last year had been downgraded - 308 primary and secondary schools. | Ofsted said 80% of outstanding schools it had revisited last year had been downgraded - 308 primary and secondary schools. |
| Most were bumped down to good - but 17% were told they needed improvement and 4% were inadequate. | Most were bumped down to good - but 17% were told they needed improvement and 4% were inadequate. |
| Are you affected by issues covered in this story? Get in touch. | Are you affected by issues covered in this story? Get in touch. |
| Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 | WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 |
| Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
| Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy | Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy |
| David, a father from Middlesex who asked the BBC to use his first name only, said his son's secondary school was among those that had been downgraded. | David, a father from Middlesex who asked the BBC to use his first name only, said his son's secondary school was among those that had been downgraded. |
| He said the school was marked down for "trivial" things, such as selling Design and Technology equipment because of a lack of uptake in the subject - whereas academic attainment remained strong. | He said the school was marked down for "trivial" things, such as selling Design and Technology equipment because of a lack of uptake in the subject - whereas academic attainment remained strong. |
| It made him question whether Ofsted's grading methods were "fit for purpose". | It made him question whether Ofsted's grading methods were "fit for purpose". |
| But Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said regular inspection gave parents "confidence in the quality of their child's school". | But Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said regular inspection gave parents "confidence in the quality of their child's school". |
| Ofsted said it had prioritised schools that had gone the longest without inspection, when it had been deciding which schools to look at last year. | Ofsted said it had prioritised schools that had gone the longest without inspection, when it had been deciding which schools to look at last year. |
| On average, the schools it visited had not been inspected for 13 years - but some had gone as long as 15 without an inspection. | On average, the schools it visited had not been inspected for 13 years - but some had gone as long as 15 without an inspection. |
| School and college ratings are searchable on the government website. | School and college ratings are searchable on the government website. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Spielman said: "These are the schools that have gone longest without being inspected, so are probably slightly more likely not to remain outstanding." | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Spielman said: "These are the schools that have gone longest without being inspected, so are probably slightly more likely not to remain outstanding." |
| She said it was important for parents to understand that most of the schools have remained "good", but said it was "concerning that quite a significant number have been marked as needing improvement". | She said it was important for parents to understand that most of the schools have remained "good", but said it was "concerning that quite a significant number have been marked as needing improvement". |
| There was no target for the number of outstanding schools, she said. | There was no target for the number of outstanding schools, she said. |
| Asked later by MPs whether there had been too many outstanding ratings previously, Ms Spielman said: "The numbers had got very high, uncomfortably high." And the old system of inspections "perhaps looked more to process than substance". | Asked later by MPs whether there had been too many outstanding ratings previously, Ms Spielman said: "The numbers had got very high, uncomfortably high." And the old system of inspections "perhaps looked more to process than substance". |
| NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said Ofsted's findings were "frequently unreliable and invalid". | NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said Ofsted's findings were "frequently unreliable and invalid". |
| "Far from demonstrating the value of Ofsted, this report shows that the inspectorate makes no material positive difference to schools," he said. | "Far from demonstrating the value of Ofsted, this report shows that the inspectorate makes no material positive difference to schools," he said. |
| He said Ofsted was "driving good teachers away" and "punitive and ill-informed inspection" slowing down improvements. | He said Ofsted was "driving good teachers away" and "punitive and ill-informed inspection" slowing down improvements. |
| 'Rapidly improved' | 'Rapidly improved' |
| The Institute for Fiscal Studies said an increase in funding for the next two years, in last week's Autumn Statement, would only return real-terms per pupil spending to its 2010 level. | The Institute for Fiscal Studies said an increase in funding for the next two years, in last week's Autumn Statement, would only return real-terms per pupil spending to its 2010 level. |
| A Department for Education spokesman said the government had "rapidly improved school standards, thanks to the tireless efforts of school leaders". | A Department for Education spokesman said the government had "rapidly improved school standards, thanks to the tireless efforts of school leaders". |
| "Today, 87% of schools are now rated as good or outstanding - up from 68% in 2010," he said. | "Today, 87% of schools are now rated as good or outstanding - up from 68% in 2010," he said. |
| Ofsted aimed to inspect every school by the summer of 2025, the spokesman added. | Ofsted aimed to inspect every school by the summer of 2025, the spokesman added. |
| During Ofsted visits, inspectors observe lessons and talk to staff and pupils. | During Ofsted visits, inspectors observe lessons and talk to staff and pupils. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Schools | Schools |
| England | |
| Ofsted | Ofsted |