Ofsted ‘more likely to downgrade inclusive schools’ – NAHT
Ofsted is more likely to downgrade schools with poorer intakes or more pupils with SEND for their achievement, attendance and behaviour, new union analysis suggests. The use of national averages to grade achievement and attendance in the new Ofsted framework has caused criticism from leaders since it launched in December. They argue it is unfair on more inclusive schools and could penalise those serving disadvantaged communities. New analysis of 650 Ofsted inspections by school leaders’ union NAHT has renewed these concerns. To achieve the middle ‘expected standard’ grade for attendance and behaviour, overall attendance must be “broadly in line with national averages or shows an improving trend over time”, according to Ofsted’s inspection toolkit. Meanwhile the ‘expected standard’ for achievement requires pupils’ attainment and progress in national tests and exams “are broadly in line with national averages”. Schools with higher disadvantage graded down NAHT’s analysis shows one-third of schools with above-average pupil eligibility for free school meals – a proxy measure of deprivation – received a ‘needs attention’ judgment for achievement. Meanwhile, less than one-fifth (18 …
