New data released today by the school
leaders' union NAHT reveals that more than nine in 10 (93%)
school leaders do not have confidence in Ofsted to design an
effective new inspection framework.
More than three quarters (76%) of school leaders surveyed by NAHT
believe a completely new framework and inspection methodology is
needed, rejecting Ofsted's plans to simply ‘evolve' the current
inspection system.
There is support for the interim measures taken by the government
to improve school inspection so far – with around two thirds
(65%) of respondents saying the removal of headline grades will
help to reduce the stress of inspection.
However, reports that the inspectorate might retain graded ‘key
sub-judgements' meet strong opposition, with three quarters (75%)
of school leaders believing this is the wrong course of action.
NAHT says this demonstrates that leaders' expectations of deep
and lasting system reform mirror the approach taken by other
inspectorates which have scrapped numeric grading systems in
favour of clearer narrative judgements.
NAHT general secretary, Paul Whiteman said:
“While some of the interim
measures taken last year to make inspection more humane have been
a step in the right direction, they clearly do not go anywhere
near far enough. Many of the fundamental problems with inspection
remain.
“Our big fear is that the inspectorate has still not properly
understood the scale of the reform required.
“Reports of a plan for a ‘five-point scale' to replace the
existing four point one has landed extremely badly with the
profession and suggest a paucity of thinking when it comes to the
design of a new system.
“The current system is clearly broken. Now is the moment for a
genuinely new approach that gives parents the detailed
information they need and addresses the hugely harmful impact
inspection currently has on school staff. What we cannot accept
is a revised version of the existing system.
“The upcoming consultation on the future of inspection will be
absolutely crucial.
“Parents and professionals need to be given a clear opportunity
to express a view on the sort of system they wish to see. Too
often in the past, they have been presented with close to a fait
accompli – that must not happen again this time.
"We remain deeply concerned about the current timescales being
proposed and Ofsted's ability and willingness to make meaningful
changes based on consultation responses.
"The consultation must be a genuine opportunity to influence the
future of inspection and Ofsted must be willing to go back to the
drawing board if necessary.”
