Dear Amanda,
As Joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union, we
are writing to urge you to cease routine Ofsted inspections of
schools in England and to confine inspections only to those
schools where there are safeguarding concerns.
After Friday’s crass Ofsted statement, we note the more
emotionally intelligent statement on Saturday, that Ofsted is
monitoring the situation closely and is in daily contact with the
DfE.
We agree with your observation that: ‘The spread of COVID-19
poses serious challenges to schools, colleges, childcare and
social care providers – not least the potential impact on
attendance and staffing.’
However, we are very concerned, given the serious challenges that
COVID-19 poses for schools, that Ofsted is still planning to
conduct inspections. We fail to understand that, in light of the
Government’s decision to move to the ‘delay’ phase, Ofsted has
revised its deferral policy to defer inspections on providers
that are ‘affected’.
We have to ask the question – can you name any school in England
which has not been affected by COVID -19?
Even if there are no reported cases in schools, all leaders and
staff are highly alert and responding to a range of pressing
concerns and issues about the management of COVID-19, all of
which involve changes to school routines and an intensification
of already excessive workloads.
These responses include:
-
Responding to and managing parental and student anxiety
about the virus
-
Implementing the frequent and multiple changes in the DfE
guidance on COVID-19
-
Ensuring schools and pupils are as safe as they can be
from becoming infected or transmitting the virus
-
Making special arrangements for vulnerable students and
staff
-
Planning work for students in the event of school
closures
We note that the Scottish inspectorate has taken a different
approach. It has suspended school
inspections and has made the following, sensible and reassuring
statement: ‘During this period, we believe it is vitally
important that staff working in education can focus entirely on
their establishment, on supporting their colleagues, pupils and
local community, and provide support where needed.’
We urge Ofsted to take the same course of action – suspend school
inspections now so that School Leaders can focus on what is
important, not what is immediate.
Yours sincerely
Dr Mary
Bousted Kevin
Courtney
Joint General
Secretary Joint
General Secretary
