THE government’s plans to improve schools cannot succeed while it is implementing austerity measures, the National Education Union (NEU) warned today.

Speaking at the Centre for Social Justice, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said that 600 schools across the country were “stuck” and vowed to usher in a “new era of accountability.”

She said new Ofsted report cards would replace single headline grades with the “rich, granular insight of school report cards.”

Under the new system, a colour-coded five-point scale will be used across at least eight areas of evaluation, compared with the four-single phrase judgments awarded previously. 

Ms Phillipson added that £20 million would be invested in regional improvement teams known as Rise, which will draw up improvement plans for the “stuck” schools.

Research by the School Cuts coalition has found that 76 per cent of primary schools and 94 per cent of secondaries will not be able to afford their costs next year.

School costs are due to increase by 3.4 per cent, but funding will go up by just 2.2 per cent, leaving a £700m gap.

NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “The Secretary of State is talking today about urging the education system to achieve more.

“At the same time, this government is gearing up to make cuts to education and to the other services which students need to remove barriers to their learning.”

Mr Kebede warned that the Prime Minister’s recommendation of an “unfunded” pay award would “cut into already tight school budgets.” 

He said: “It will undermine the pledge to attract more teachers and to retain the experience which our schools need, to be successful for every learner.”

It is not inspection that delivers excellence but “well supported, experienced leaders and education professionals — and it is investment,” Mr Kebede added.

“Quite simply, you cannot have an improving school system whilst you are implementing austerity.”

A 12-week consultation on the government’s plans will now take place.

The Ofsted changes follow the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after an inspection.

Her sister, Professor Julia Waters, flagged up concerns that the proposal was a “rehash of the discredited and dangerous system it is meant to replace.”