Shadow Education Secretary, , will today (Saturday
11 March) say that Labour is the party of “high and rising school
standards”, as she announces Labour will strengthen Ofsted to
ensure that excellence is for every child.
In a speech to the Association of School and College Leaders,
Phillipson will announce that Labour would give parents better
grip of children’s educational standards by consulting on a new
‘report card’ to replace the four headline grades that Ofsted can
currently awards to schools.
In announcing the change, Phillipson will say that parents and
schools “deserve better than a system that is high stakes for
staff, but low information for parents”, pledging to consult with
teachers and parents to ensure that the new system delivers for
families.
Labour’s announcement follows research which has found
significant inconsistencies in the headline grades Ofsted
inspectors have been awarding to schools, with researchers
warning that the current framework for inspections is “more
subjective” than previously.
Only around half of parents say that they know their school’s
Ofsted grade and when choosing schools for their children, word
of mouth and local reputation are more important to parents than
Ofsted results.
Phillipson will say that giving parents simple information in the
form of a report card will better enable them to get an
understanding of where a school is performing well and where they
can do better. It will also show the areas in which the
school is improving, so parents can understand the direction of
travel of their children’s school.
Labour also plans to introduce a new annual review of school
safeguarding saying that the safety of children is too important
to be left to infrequent inspections, as part of plans to
overhaul Ofsted across its full range of responsibilities.
It follows the “Everyone’s Invited” expose of sexual harassment
in schools, where subsequent Ofsted visits found that over 90% of
girls have been subject to sexist language, sexual harassment and
online sexual abuse from other students.
Bridget Phillipson, Labour’s Shadow Education
Secretary, is expected to say:
“The next Labour government will bring a wind of change to our
education system…and drive forward reform of education and
of childcare as part of our mission to break down barriers to
opportunity.
“Because I am determined that under Labour the focus will again
return, to how we deliver a better future for every child,
through high and rising standards in every school.
“I will make no apology for being demanding for our children, and
I want parents to be part of that wind of change through our
classrooms: partners in the push for better.”
Ends
Notes
- Bridget Phillipson is speaking at the Association of School
and College Leaders’ Annual Conference on Saturday 11 March at
0930.
The Secretary of State for Education has pulled out of speaking
at the Conference.
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