ASCL comment on lighter-touch Ofsted inspections in summer term

Commenting on lighter-touch Ofsted inspections in the summer term, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“This seems a proportionate approach to school inspection during the summer term. It gives struggling schools which are improving the chance to be regraded to reflect their improvement. It also recognises that secondary schools will have their hands full assessing students for GCSEs, A-levels and other qualifications during the first half of the summer term, and proposes no routine inspections during this time. We are pleased that Ofsted has listened to feedback from education leaders who are dealing with the extraordinary challenges of managing Covid safety processes, supporting pupils after the lockdown, and assessing students following the cancellation of exams.”