Britain’s strictest headteacher has warned that scrapping single-phrase inspection headline grades for schools is putting “feelings” above “facts”.
Education watchdog Ofsted previously awarded one of four headline grades to schools it inspects: “outstanding”, “good”, “requires improvement” and “inadequate”.
From September next year, parents will instead be able to view a report card in all areas which Ofsted inspects so they have a more detailed assessment of a school.
But Katharine Birbalsingh, who has been called Britain’s strictest headteacher, criticised the move.
The headteacher of Michaela Community School in Brent, north-west London, said: “Abolishing judgments because of leaders feeling bad is a nod in the wrong direction. It is an indulgence of the tyranny of feelings being more important than facts.”
She added that the reasoning behind the move “worries” her regarding the new Labour government’s future decisions.
Ms Birbalsingh also said plans for the new report cards will “not give more clarity to parents” and this was “bluster from the politicians”.
The change to the Ofsted system came after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Mrs Perry took her own life in January 2023 after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating, “outstanding”, to its lowest rating, “inadequate”, over safeguarding concerns.
A coroner concluded the Ofsted inspection in November 2022 “contributed” to Mrs Perry’s death.
Ms Birbalsingh’s school hit the headlines in April when it won a high court battle with a student over a controversial prayer ban. It had faced a legal challenge from a Muslim pupil over claims she had been discriminated against on the basis of her religion.
Ms Birbalsingh imposed the crackdown in March last year, insisting its approach promoted “inclusion and social cohesion between pupils”.
The court ruled that the school had been entitled to impose a ban on “prayer rituals” and the student chose the school knowing that it had strict rules.
Ms Birbalsingh has said the ruling was a “victory for all schools”.
