One-word Ofsted ratings for schools are to be scrapped with immediate effect, the Government has announced.
In an aim to boost school standards and increase transparency for parents, theDepartment for Education (DfE) has confirmed this week that its education standards board will cease to use single-headline grades for schools, as believes they are “reductive” and fail to provide a “fair and accurate assessment of overall school performance” across a range of areas.
According to the Government, Ofsted one-word ratings are currently only supported by a minority of parents and teachers anyway.
So, what does this mean for the future of Ofsted inspections then?
Well, for inspections that are due to take place this academic year, parents will see four grades across the existing sub-categories, which are: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, but these grades will not be condensed into a single one-word rating.
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Single headline grades are low value for parents and high stakes for schools.
Parents expect high standards for their children. We will give them clearer and broader information about schools, to help them make the right choice for their child. pic.twitter.com/pcNMAAUD72
The Government will, however, continue to intervene in poorly-performing schools to ensure there are still high school standards for children.
Where schools are identified as struggling, the Government will prioritise getting plans in place for them to improve the education and experience of children “rapidly”, rather than relying purely on changing schools’ management.
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Then, from early 2025, the Government will also introduce ‘Regional Improvement Teams’ that will work with struggling schools to “quickly and directly address” areas of weakness.
This reform is said to be “paving the way” for the introduction of the new ‘School Report Cards’ from September of next year – which will provide parents with a full and comprehensive assessment of how schools are performing, and ensure that inspections are more effective in driving improvement.
Recent data shows that reports cards are supported by 77% of parents.
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High school students raising their hands in a classroom / Credit: gov.uk
“The need for Ofsted reform to drive high and rising standards for all our children in every school is overwhelmingly clear,” explained Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, as the announcement was made this week.
“The removal of headline grades is a generational reform and a landmark moment for children, parents, and teachers.
“Single headline grades are low information for parents and high stakes for schools.
“Parents deserve a much clearer, much broader picture of how schools are performing – and that’s what our report cards will provide.”
🚨 NEW: We’re scrapping single headline Ofsted judgements with immediate effect.
Ofsted judgements have been high stakes for schools, low information for parents.
We’ll:
✅ Give parents more transparency ✅ Drive high & rising standards ✅ Pave the way for school report cards
The change to scrap one-word ratings will apparently work to delivering the Government’s mission to “break down barriers to opportunity” and also demonstrates Prime Minister Keir Starmer‘s commitment to “improve the life chances” of young people across the country.
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“This Government will make inspection a more powerful, more transparent tool for driving school improvement,” the Education Secretary concluded.
‘Ambitious’ new plans to tackle fly-tipping and litter across Manchester revealed
Emily Sergeant
An ambitious new plan to tackle flytipping and litter across Manchester has been revealed.
Developed with extensive input from residents, partners, businesses, and schools all across the borough, Manchester City Council has this week unveiled and formally approved the Fly-Tipping and Litter Strategy as a long‑term plan to significantly reduce the improper disposal of waste and its drain on public money, all while improving neighbourhood cleanliness across the city.
The strategy sets out a framework over nine years, backed by targeted enforcement, service improvements, and behaviour‑change campaigns to drive significant impact for thousands of Mancs.
As it stands, the Council removes litter as part of its scheduled services – with 6,563 reports responded to and 11,952 fines issued in 2024-25 – but is having to take things up a notch due to a consistent rise in littering incidents, as well as the ever-present issue of fly-tipping.
‘Ambitious’ new plans to tackle fly-tipping and litter across Manchester have been revealed / Credit: oatsy40 (via Flickr)
Nationally, England saw 1.15 million incidents of flytipping in 2023/24, with household waste accounting for more than 60% of cases, while here in Manchester, the city recorded a whopping 14,963 fly‑tipping incidents in 2024/25.
According to the Council, fly-tipping in Manchester usually occurs on roads and pavements (59%), and alleyways (22%).
The Council’s new Fly-tipping and Litter Strategy will be formally launched next month to coincide with the beginning of the Great British Spring Clean, and is hoped to signal a commitment to creating ‘cleaner, safer, and greener’ neighbourhoods for everyone.
The Great British Spring Clean is coming.
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“The Fly-Tipping and Litter Strategy is a significant step towards improving the long-term health of Manchester’s communities,” explained Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, who is the Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, as the plans were unveiled this week.
“We recognised how important it is to hear from residents, people who live and work in the city, themselves and so we have developed this strategy in close consultation through their lived experiences and advice.
“While we already have key initiatives we work under, in addition to several other strategies and projects, this new strategy sets to galvanise and advance the work our services and communities are doing to ensure Manchester becomes cleaner and greener for everyone.”
Featured Image – MJ Richardson (via Geograph)
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Mancs start crowdfunder for Mani mural in honour of late, great, local music legend
Danny Jones
A group of Manchester artists, audiophiles and residents have started a fundraiser to create a new mural in memory of the late, great local music legend, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.
Following The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bass player’s passing last year, the city and Greater Manchester as a whole have been finding ways to honour the Manc musician ever since.
Be it lining his funeral cortege from his home in Heaton Moor, Stockport, or peers like The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess penning heartfelt tributes, anyone and everyone has found their own way of paying their respects in the months since.
Taking the sustained sentiment even further, local art collective GRIT Studios is now planning to erect a massive mural in his memory.
We’re doing a massive mural for Manchester’s most loved son – Mani. All profits to @maggiesmanc a charity that was close to his heart.
Writing on the fundraising page’s description, GRIT say: “Inspired by Ian Brown’s eulogy to Mani at Manchester Cathedral, a major community crowdfunder is being launched to create a large-scale mural honouring the beloved bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream and to raise funds for Maggie’s Manchester.
“The mural, which will be created in Failsworth, where young Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield grew up, has been initiated by the team at GRIT Studios following an overwhelming outpouring of love from fans across Greater Manchester and beyond.
“Mani’s brother, Greg Mounfield, is supporting this campaign and has facilitated a prominent, large wall space for the mural and chosen the design.
They go on to to explan that the piece “will be painted by the renowned artist Pic.One.Art, whose recent portrait of Noel and Liam Gallagher outside the iconic Sifters Records in Burnage became an instant landmark and received widespread attention.”
Speaking of Brown’s now viral speech, it still remains one of the most touching bits of public observance and shared mourning this city has ever seen – with a healthy little dose of Northern levity, of course.
@the.manc Yesterday, Manchester laid one of the city's greatest music legends, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, to rest at Manchester Cathedral. 🍋 Fellow band member and life-long friend Ian Brown read out a speech as hundreds gathered outside the cathedral to pay their respects to The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist. Mani will be missed by many, and we send love to all his family and friends. ❤️ #manchester#mani#ianbrown#thestoneroses#stoneroses♬ original sound – The Manc
“Since Mani passed away in November, countless fans have expressed a desire to see a tribute in the place that shaped him in North Manchester”, they continue.
“GRIT Studios, the not-for-profit art studios organisation, has stepped forward to organise a community-led, crowdfunded project that celebrates Mani’s life, music and spirit.
“It will not only fund the creation of the mural, but all profits will go to Maggie’s Manchester, which was close to Mani and his wife Imelda’s hearts during her cancer treatment and for whom they fundraised.
With a target of £10,000 set and more than £6k already raised in just a matter of days, it looks to be a matter of when, not if, we’ll see Mani immortalised in paint, on brick and with typical Manc grit over in the borough of Oldham.
For anyone who wishes to contribute to the fast-growing Mani mural crowdfunder, you can do so HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd September 2024 
