Commenting on the Ofsted report 2024/25, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"One of the key themes of Ofsted’s annual report is that there are so many vulnerable students in our education system, and how greatly disadvantage blights children’s lives. This should prompt a much wider vision for education, and investment in all the services which ‘at risk’ children and their families require.
“The Ofsted annual report makes very few references to the skills, views or concerns of the education profession and no reference to the 'wellbeing' off staff is made in the report. The report notes the impact of poor student behaviour on teacher retention and morale, but Ofsted ignores the link between testing, relentless recording of data and pupil disaffection. Martyn Oliver should look closer to home as one of the main drivers behind the exodus from the profession is the current high stakes and relentless accountability.
“The new grading scale risks making it harder for schools and education staff to respond to the very real challenges which the annual report sets out- those around inclusion, disadvantage and vulnerable students. A one size fits all vision on ‘standards’ undermines the inclusion agenda and leaves so many young people without the skills they need for employment and adult life.
"Ranking, shaming and making schools compete with each other has become normalised in England – but there are much better ways than Ofsted to help schools improve, collaborate and thrive’’