Single-word Ofsted ratings can be “crushing”, a North Watford headteacher has warned, as the government announced plans to reform the inspection process.

“Reductive” headline inspection grades - such as 'good' or 'requires improvement' - are set to be scrapped as they “fail to provide a fair and accurate assessment” of schools’ performance over different areas, the Department for Education said today (September 2).

It comes after a coroner found last November that the decision to downgrade Caversham Primary School in Reading to ‘inadequate’ in January 2023 contributed to the death of 53-year-old headteacher Ruth Perry.

Knutsford Primary Academy headteacher Ben Conway said the proposals represented a “positive change” for the sector, adding: “There’s a wide understanding that system reform needs to take place and meaningful change is important and needs to happen.

“As teaching professionals, we’ve been calling out for a long time for reform.”

Headteacher Ben Conway said meaningful change needs to happen in school inspections.Headteacher Ben Conway said meaningful change needs to happen in school inspections. (Image: Ben Conway)

Mr Conway felt school leaders have to be “wholly committed” to the role in order to succeed.

“It’s more than a job, it becomes you,” he added. “To be that figurehead and then have those one single-word judgements go out, it’s crushing obviously.

“All schools have strengths and positives in some areas, but the single-word judgements hide a lot of those and people make up their minds without going into more details.”

The headteacher said the case of Mrs Perry was “very sad” and highlighted “hidden pressures” that headteachers face.

Mr Conway felt the death of headteacher Ruth Perry (pictured) highlighted the hidden pressures school leaders face.Mr Conway felt the death of headteacher Ruth Perry (pictured) highlighted the hidden pressures school leaders face. (Image: PA)

“The teaching profession is rewarding but it is not an easy profession,” Mr Conway added.

“There are lots of hidden pressures that are laid at our doors, and that demonstrated to me that something went awry in that inspection process which caused that for an individual who was trying their best to do what they can for their community."

Mr Conway said: Single-word judgements hide a lot of those and people make up their minds without going into more details.”Mr Conway said: Single-word judgements hide a lot of those and people make up their minds without going into more details.” (Image: PA) He has discussed the announcement today with other principals at the Aspire Academies Trust, who he said are “optimistic” about the change but are waiting to see what concrete proposals are announced.

“In the end, we want that inspection process to be more effective in supporting us and improving our schools, and for parents to have a deeper understanding of what happens within our schools."