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Londra Gazete, 24 November 2022 LondraGazete.com/English 5

Ofsted downgrades hundreds of

outstanding schools in England

MOST of the outstanding
schools in England inspected
last year have been downgraded,
according to a report from the
schools watchdog.
Some of them had not been
looked at for 15 years and many
would have experienced "signif-
Shoppers warned most Black icant change" such as new head
teachers, Ofsted said.
But the National Education Un-
Friday offers are not cheaper ion (NEU) said Ofsted's findings
were "frequently unreliable".
SHOPPERS searching for Black deals last year at seven major The Department for Education
Friday bargains are being warned home and tech retailers - Am- said most schools remained good
that most deals do not offer gen- azon, AO, Argos, Currys, John or outstanding.
uine discounts. Lewis, Richer Sounds and Very. It Between 2012 and 2020,
Analysis of more than 200 of- looked at their prices every day in schools judged outstanding were findings were "frequently unrelia- spokesman said the government
fers last Black Friday found 98% the six months before and after revisited only if specific concerns ble and invalid". had "rapidly improved school
were cheaper or the same price at the sale day which was 26 Novem- were raised. "Far from demonstrating the standards, thanks to the tireless
other times in the year, consumer ber 2021. Ofsted said 80% of outstanding value of Ofsted, this report shows efforts of school leaders".
group Which? said. Out of the deals analysed, schools it had revisited last year "Today, 87% of schools are now
The warning comes as the num- Which? found 183 or 86% were had been downgraded - 308 pri- that the inspectorate makes no rated as good or outstanding - up
ber of people hitting UK shops cheaper or the same as their Black mary and secondary schools. material positive difference to from 68% in 2010," he said.
this Black Friday is forecast at Friday price in the six months be- Most were bumped down to schools," he said. Ofsted aimed to inspect every
12.8% higher than 2021, retail fore the sales event. good - but 17% were told they He said Ofsted was "driving school by the summer of 2025,
experts Springboard said. Some 209 deals or 98% were needed improvement and 4% good teachers away" and "puni- the spokesman added.
Many are under extra pressure cheaper or the same price at oth- were inadequate. tive and ill-informed inspection" During Ofsted visits, inspectors
to make savings as the cost of liv- er times in the year. None were NEU joint general secretary slowing down improvements. observe lessons and talk to staff
ing rises. cheaper on Black Friday alone. Kevin Courtney said Ofsted's A Department for Education and pupils.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
are the busiest dates in the re- Which? also found that some
tail calendar. Previous years have retailers temporarily raised prices
seen a shopping frenzy featuring of goods just before Black Friday,
long queues, empty shelves and so they would seem discounted by I'm not the Grinch, says union boss
scenes of customers fighting over the time the sales day arrived.
the last cut price television set. Which? named Amazon and ahead of Christmas action
This year prices are rising at Very as "the worst retailers over-
their fastest rate in over 40 years all for dubious discounts". It
prompting Christmas shoppers found more than 70% of prod- THE boss of a rail workers un- The strikes will be staged across December, as well as singer Paolo
to search for savings. But Which? ucts included in its analysis were ion has said he is "not the Grinch" four 48-hour periods on 13-14 Nutini's gigs in Glasgow on 13, 14
warned that Black Friday was cheaper at other times of the year ahead of fresh strikes in the run- and 16-17 December, and 3-4 and and 16 December.
"rarely the cheapest time to shop". compared to their Black Friday up to Christmas and after New 6-7 January. Hospitality businesses will also
It analysed 214 Black Friday price. Year. Some 40,000 workers will walk be hit, with the strikes happening
Mick Lynch, general secretary out and there is likely to be dis- in the busiest week of the year for
of the RMT Union, said the latest ruption in the days around the the pub industry.
Electric car drivers must walkouts would "show how im- strikes due to trains not being in bookings and staying home,
"Customers will be cancelling
portant our members are to the the right places.
pay tax from 2025 running of this country". The walkouts will affect people whilst staffing shortages will be
Passengers are expected to face travelling to see comedian Peter
major disruption over the festive Kay's comeback shows in London exacerbated by a lack of transport
options," said Emma McClarkin,
period. and Birmingham on 16 and 17
ELECTRIC vehicle excise duty to make our motoring tax system head of the British Beer and Pub
from April 2025, the chancellor fairer I've decided that from then, Association.
has said. electric vehicles will no longer be Members of the RMT Union
Announcing the change as part exempt from vehicle excise duty." are taking action after workers
of his Autumn Statement, Jeremy Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is at Network Rail, which maintains
Hunt said the move was designed a tax levied on vehicles on UK the railways across Britain, and
to make the motoring tax system roads. At present, EVs are ex- 14 train companies voted in a bal-
"fairer". empt. lot last week.
The RAC motoring group said There are different rates de-
it did not expect the change to pending on the vehicle. Mr Lynch said the latest strikes
dampen demand for electric vehi- Under the plans laid out today, would "send a clear message that
cles (EVs). electric cars registered from April we want a good deal on job secu-
But others, including the AA, 2025 will pay the lowest rate of rity, pay and conditions".
warned the move would reduce £10 in the first year, then move "I'm not the Grinch," he said,
the incentive to switch to EVs. to the standard rate which is cur- referring to the children's book
Mr Hunt said: "Because the rently £165. character who tries to cancel
OBR (Office for Budget Respon- The standard rate will also ap- Christmas. "I'm a trade union of-
sibility) forecasts half of all new ply to electric vehicles first regis- ficial and I'm determined to get a
vehicles will be electric by 2025, tered after April 2017. deal."