ASCL comment on Ofsted autumn visits report

Commenting on Ofsted’s latest briefing on its autumn visits, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We echo the praise of the Chief Inspector for the fantastic work of education and social care staff during the Covid pandemic.

“Schools and colleges have worked tirelessly and under very difficult circumstances to simultaneously deliver classroom learning, remote education, and catch-up provision, all while managing Covid safety procedures.

“Unfortunately, we do not think they have been well-supported by the government. During this term, schools and colleges have experienced significant problems in accessing Covid tests, difficulties in obtaining timely public health advice, insufficient support for financial costs associated with Covid, and a shortfall in laptops.

“To cap it all, the government not only refused to give schools any flexibility over whether to move to remote education in the final week of term in the best interests of staff and pupils, but threatened them with legal action if they dared to contemplate such a move.

“We hope the government has learned lessons and that its support for schools and colleges will improve next term.”