The director of a headteachers' association has welcomed changes to Ofsted that will see one-word judgements scrapped.
On Monday, September 2, the Department for Education announced schools in England would no longer receive single headline grades, such as 'good' or 'inadequate', from the watchdog moving forward.
This follows ongoing debate over the adequacy of the one-word system, particularly following the death of Ruth Perry, head at Caversham Primary in Berkshire, who took her own life after hearing her school was deemed 'inadequate'.
Rebecca Leek, executive director of Suffolk Primary Headteachers' Association, has welcomed the announcement that the one-word judgements will come to an end.
She said: "This latest change, albeit quite small, is a welcome next step in the ongoing reform of Ofsted.
"Parents will now see four to five summary judgements rather than being drawn to a headline, single judgement. This adds much needed to nuance to what has been a fraught, problematic and high-stakes inspection framework."
She explained that campaigners feel they have had to "fight too hard to get this far" and said the previous lead inspector was initially "defensive" and did not engage for many months following the death of Ms Perry.
"We are cautiously hopeful that these changes indicate a culture shift and that any new developments will be done in full consultation with professionals and stakeholders," said Ms Leek.
"This is what is needed to drive a healthy and thriving education sector."
The Department for Education website reads: "We know that one word judgements aren’t working for parents or schools.
"Ofsted research found fewer than four in 10 parents, and only 29% of teachers, support one-word judgements."
It also states the department will "continue to intervene in poorly performing schools" to ensure high standards are maintained.
The move has not been welcomed by everyone, however, as writing in a column in the East Anglian Daily Times, James Cartlidge, MP for South Suffolk, said: "I very much regret Labour’s abolition of the well understood one word Ofsted school descriptions – but I still hope that both schools in Sudbury could one day be ‘outstanding’ in all senses.
"Certainly, striving to improve our education offer in totality will remain one of my top priorities in the constituency and Westminster."
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