A lot has been said about single word Ofsted reports being scrapped, but we wonder how extensive the shakeup of the school accountability framework will be under this new government. There still exists a strong link between test scores and Ofsted inspection results, is this going to change?
School Report Cards are to be introduced for September 2025. Here we have a look at some big questions about what this will look like.
1) What will be reported in the School Report Cards?
The government says that School Report Cards will provide parents with a full and comprehensive assessment of how schools are performing”
The focus is on giving parents more information and providing a “broader picture” of school performance.
Up until now school performance has focused mostly on test scores, which are relative to the demographic of the intake; therefore currently Ofsted reports are not very useful for parents.
School report cards will provide an opportunity to measure accountability against school context, giving a fairer assessment of the level of education that is being delivered.
From consultations we know that parents are keen to know about how happy pupils are at the school, so we expect student wellbeing to feature heavily in the report cards.
Other features might include:
Most importantly the report card will give schools the opportunity to showcase what they do well against the backdrop of the demographic they serve.
2) Will broader measures reflect the performance of good schools?
Before any decisions are made about what will be included in the report cards, there will need to be some kind of consensus about the purpose of education.
Perhaps the purpose will vary to a certain extent across different schools and there will be scope for schools to choose what is included in their report card (within parameters).
If accountability continues along the existing route of test scores, progress 8 and “narrowing the gap” then excellent schools in disadvantaged areas will still be seen to be performing badly
School report cards are an excellent opportunity to reconsider the purpose of education, a richer and more holistic interpretation that rewards schools for the excellent work they do with students with challenging home lives.
The school’s test scores might not be as high as other schools due to the community they serve. But if the school is nurturing well rounded individuals, who enjoy attending school and feel they belong then a new accountability framework should see that the school is performing very well.
3) Is school performance made up of things that can be measured?
Test scores are easy to compare and have hitherto been the go to data to measure school performance, despite studies showing that the scores are almost entirely decided from factors outside of the school.
We hope now that the DfE will come up with an accountability framework that is proportionate and fair, although there are big questions as to how easily key factors of good school performance can be measured.
Whilst the single word Ofsted judgment is being scrapped, the existing 4 subcategories introduced from the 2019 framework will continue – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership & management.
School report cards will certainly enhance the information available to parents under these headings. We also hope that they will enhance the accountability process by providing an ongoing report of what the school is doing currently and what they are planning to do to improve, rather than the current judgement that just captures a snapshot in time.
The DfE will need to come up with an accountability framework that is made up of components that can be compared fairly across schools and give equal measure to key factors of good school performance.
4) Will School Report Cards drive school performance?
The government has also said that the School Report Cards will “ensure that inspections are more effective in driving improvement”
Requiring schools to report on a wide array of measures is an excellent self-evaluation tool per se and likely to drive school performance if introduced properly.
Schools will be able to focus on student and staff well-being, wider curricula and inclusive practices that give a greater proportion of the student population a sense of belonging, which in turn should improve behaviour, attendance and student learning.
For schools in more advantaged locations perhaps good test scores alone will not be enough to secure favourable Ofsted outcomes. These schools will be looking to drive school performance within a wider interpretation of the purpose of education.
5) What will trigger Government Intervention?
The government has confirmed that it “will continue to intervene in poorly performing schools to ensure high school standards for children”
Without a single word Ofsted judgement, we wonder what conditions will trigger the government to intervene?
It looks like there will be a move away from Ofsted reports being used to punish schools; accountability will be more about supporting schools to improve rather than replacing management.
This is a welcome change in direction from the heavy handed intervention we have seen in the past. Relieving some of the pressure on teaching staff in our most challenging schools could see an improvement in the learning and well-being of the children and young people in most need of support.
A new accountability framework could use the school report cards to identify good school practices that take into account the challenges they face and direction the school is travelling in.
In the absence of good practices and a clear plan to improve, the government may decide to intervene with support to implement an improvement plan.
School Report Cards could also be an opportunity to share good practice across schools.
Summary
School report cards should be welcomed by schools as an opportunity to showcase what they do best and what they are looking to improve on.
The move away from test scores as the paramount performance measure will relieve some of the pressure for schools with challenging intake and hopefully lead to better student and staff wellbeing.
Parents will be able to access a far greater wealth of information about schools, from which they can decide which is the best school for their child.
The introduction of school report cards should be a positive one. There are big questions about what a new accountability framework will look like and we will have to see how Ofsted use the report cards to enhance the process.
