Teaching unions and campaigners reacted with dismay to the response.
They have been calling for radical reform of Ofsted inspections following the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life in January 2023. Inspectors had downgraded her school, Caversham Primary, from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate'.
Berkshire’s senior coroner ruled that her suicide was ‘contributed to by an Ofsted inspection’.
The Government’s response to the committee’s report states that it is continuing to listen to the sector’s views and to look at alternatives to the four single-word judgements, including looking at ‘various approaches taken internationally’. However, the response still states the DfE’s belief that there are ‘significant benefits’ to the current system.
The committee said it had heard during its inquiry more concern about the single-word judgements than any other issue, and recommended that Ofsted and DfE should ‘as a priority’ look to develop an alternative that better captures the complex nature of a school's performance.
DfE’s response, along with Ofsted’s response, also agreed that the inspectorate should always show the full list of judgements for each school on its website, not just the overall judgement.
Asked how she felt about the decision Ruth Perry’s sister Professor Julia Waters told Sky News that, ‘It feels like a kick in the teeth, a betrayal, an insult.’
She said she had had 18 hours of meetings with senior officials including Gillian Keegan, and that they had heard from expert groups.
She added, ‘I had genuinely thought that they were listening, and I had also really hoped that the backing of the education select committee, a cross-party parliamentary group of MPs, the majority of whom are Conservative MPs, that their validation of the things that I and so many others have been arguing for would persuade the secretary of state to change her mind, but no.’
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said, ‘It smacks of a government that is out of touch with parents and professionals alike. Single-word judgments do not “provide significant benefit” – they are deeply harmful and must be scrapped entirely.’
Last month, Ofsted under new chair Sir Martyn Oliver launched the ‘Big Listen’ to gather views about the inspectorate.
A spokesperson said, ‘Ofsted aims always to be a force for good in this country, ensuring schools, children’s homes, nurseries and colleges deliver the highest standards of education and care to children. But we know we can improve.’
A Department for Education spokesperson said, ‘The secretary of state has been clear that we will continue to consider ways to improve the current system, including looking at international approaches, and we are looking forward to hearing the views of teachers, parents and children through the Big Listen.’
