Education Secretary will lay out plans for a
new era of school standards in a landmark speech today (Monday 3
February), to make sure every child - wherever they grow up – can
achieve and thrive.
The Department for Education and Ofsted will publish proposals
for a significantly strengthened school accountability system, as
part of the government's mission to improve children's life
chances and break the link between background and success - a
fundamental part of government's Plan for Change.
The measures today come as Ofsted has unveiled the new report
cards which they propose will evaluate schools across nine
separate areas. They also set out proposals for evaluating
areas from 'exemplary' to 'causing concern', holding schools
to a higher standard and providing far greater information for
parents.
Alongside reform to inspection and accountability, the Education
Secretary will use the speech to set out the government's wider
vision for a school system fit for the future, which delivers
improved outcomes for young people across the country.
These plans will accelerate the government's mission to break the
link between background and success, as we rebuild our public
services and launch a decade of national renewal.
The Education Secretary is expected to
say:
“Never will we go back to the dark days of weak
accountability.
“Because it was the children from disadvantaged backgrounds who
suffered the most.
“…So today I am taking us into a new era on school
standards…
“Our searchlight on poor performance must now become brighter, to
see the problems of today and tomorrow quickly and clearly.
“So a more rigorous system, raising the bar of our expectations,
on what good really looks like when it comes to the futures of
our children.”
The Education Secretary will
continue:
“Our proposals will swap single headline grades for the rich,
granular insight of school report cards.
“Raising the bar on what we expect from schools, shining a light
on all the areas that matter, each given their own grade.
“Identifying excellence and rooting out performance that falls
short of expectations,
so that parents have clearer, better information about their
local schools.”
The Education Secretary will add:
“Background wasn't my destiny. And I won't rest
until that's true for all children. That is my
vision for education.
“Opportunity, for those children, for all children. That is our
mission, driven by the Prime Minister's Plan for Change.
“An excellent teacher for every child, a high-quality curriculum
for every school, a core offer of excellence for every parent.”
School report cards will start to be introduced from September
this year, with a full national roll out in November.
The Government will also set out proposals to revamp the way
parents see information about schools, through new digital
‘School Profiles'.
The plans will mean a comprehensive modernisation of the
Department for Education's existing online schools directory,
creating a one-stop-shop where parents can see key, up-to-date
data around areas like attainment and attendance, as well as the
school's latest inspection report card.
These measures together will provide for more transparency, so
that parents have clearer, better information about their local
schools.
