{"id":13814,"date":"2016-12-13T23:40:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-13T23:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=13814"},"modified":"2016-12-13T23:40:00","modified_gmt":"2016-12-13T23:40:00","slug":"ofsted-uncomfortable-to-downgrade-outstanding-schools-despite-declining-performance-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/ofsted-uncomfortable-to-downgrade-outstanding-schools-despite-declining-performance-data\/","title":{"rendered":"Ofsted \u2018Uncomfortable\u2019 To Downgrade Outstanding Schools Despite Declining Performance DatS"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 30% of \u2018outstanding\u2019 secondary schools in England were kept at the same inspection grade in their follow up Ofsted inspection, despite seeing a \u201csignificant deterioration\u201d in their academic performance, a new analysis has revealed.<\/h2>\n

Reporter – Chrys Salter<\/h3>\n

Research by the Education Policy Institute, published in November, found large numbers of schools are maintaining positive Ofsted grades despite a \u201csignificant deterioration\u201d in results, as the government introduces a new performance measure for secondary schools which focuses on progress rather than individual student outcomes.<\/p>\n

The research analysis of Ofsted inspection grades and the new performance data from 2007 to 2016, found that almost 34% of outstanding secondary schools who saw their performance progress stall\u00a0or decline between inspections remained at the same grade, while just 6% were downgraded to \u2018requires improvement\u2019.<\/p>\n

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HMCI is happy to report that five years on, we have seen some significant improvements. #OfstedAR16<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/xHZxQMu3Ga<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HAI7FJByqw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ofsted (@Ofstednews) December 12, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Russel Hagen, a spokesman from the national union of head teachers, explained to VEX that statistically \u2018outstanding\u2019 schools are increasingly being outperformed by schools graded \u2018good\u2019 by Ofsted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe inspection framework for all schools in England has changed beyond recognition over the past 10 years. Before, inspectors looked heavily at data analysis but this was then replaced by a framework which was too heavily weighted on things like behaviour of students, the social development of students and extracurricular activities on offer. They stopped looking at how well students were doing, which is why many schools achieved their \u2018outstanding\u2019 grades in the first place. Now that the framework has been revised and improved, many of the schools given an \u2018outstanding\u2019 grade do not perform half as well as many schools who have maintained a \u2018good\u2019 rating for several years\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn order for a school to be truly outstanding, the achievement and progress of their students should be exceptional. \u2018Outstanding\u2019 schools whose GCSE and A Level results are broadly average are not outstanding\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany schools graded \u2018good\u2019 in every section of an inspection report are outperforming schools graded \u2018outstanding\u2019, which clearly isn\u2019t right\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, Ofsted now views many schools who are performing in line with the national average year on year, without seeing a significant improvement, as \u2018coasting\u2019, with only those performing above and beyond the average benchmark being awarded good or better\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ofsted grades schools on a scale of one to four, marking key areas deemed significant when deciding the overall effectiveness of an educational provider.<\/p>\n

The report makes judgements on:<\/p>\n