The Live Wire



Press Release

Ofsted scrapping 'satisfactory' in school inspections "unsatisfactory"

17 January 2012

Voice: the union for education professionals – which represents teachers, head teachers and support staff – has commented on Ofsted's plan to scrap the "satisfactory" judgement in school inspections and replace it with "requires improvement".

General Secretary Philip Parkin criticised the idea as "unsatisfactory": "Being 'satisfactory' is less demoralising than 'requires improvement' and, by implication, a classification such as 'satisfactory' needs improving upon.

"No school - even if it is given an 'outstanding' grade by Ofsted - is entirely perfect and, it could be argued, 'requires improvement'.

"However, such a designation is likely to drive parents away, reduce numbers at the school, put additional pressure on other schools and make it even harder to improve than it would if it had been graded 'satisfactory'."

Voice will give its full response to Ofsted's consultation in due course.



Press releases, papers and documents published on this page are the intellectual property of an organisation unrelated to Central Lobby. We promote their parliamentary and political campaigning activities as they are subscribers to the Central Lobby service.

As such, Central Lobby does not edit, endorse, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases and other such types of content are the responsibility of the originating organisation.

Voice: the union for education professionals

More from Dods

© Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd