Schools in the West Midlands that were formerly rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted have received updated ratings following recent inspections under the education watchdog’s revised framework.
Ofsted revisited primary schools across Birmingham, Dudley, and Shirley to evaluate performance based on its overhauled inspection system introduced earlier this year. This new framework replaces traditional grade labels such as ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, or ‘inadequate’ with a fresh set of performance descriptors.
The highest rating a school can now achieve is “exceptional,” followed by “strong standard” and then “expected standard.” None of the schools inspected achieved the top “exceptional” rating, a distinction that remains rare.
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Mansfield Green E-ACT Academy in Aston received three “strong standard” ratings and four “expected standard” ratings under the new system. Blowers Green Primary in Dudley attained six “strong standard” ratings and one “expected standard.” Tudor Grange Primary in Shirley was awarded five “strong standard” ratings and two “expected standard” ratings.
Despite the absence of “exceptional” ratings, all schools continue to perform well according to Ofsted’s evaluations.
The inspection report for Mansfield Green highlights the school’s improvements in attendance, attributing success to a strategic and personalised approach that centres on fostering positive relationships with families. The report notes, “Behaviour throughout the school is orderly, respectful and positive, with clear expectations and routines consistently applied by staff.”
Regarding Blowers Green, Ofsted commended the school’s preparation of pupils for their next educational stages, stating, “Pupils develop the requisite knowledge and skills across the entire curriculum, producing consistently high-quality work. Leadership actively promotes attendance, working closely with parents and pupils to identify and remove barriers to regular attendance, resulting in most pupils attending consistently and recognising its importance.”