- Enhanced quality assurance process will see fewer inspections
to begin with, led only by the most experienced inspectors.
- No inspections in the week before Christmas to allow for
further training.
- Further measures to reassure providers about the November
roll-out.
To support a steady and assured start, Ofsted's National Director
for Education and Principal Inspector, Lee Owston HMI, will quality assure the
work of the most senior inspectors following their participation
in pilot visits to volunteer settings in early autumn. Every
inspector will also complete a comprehensive training programme,
with the same quality assurance checks, before being deployed on
a live inspection.
This rolling quality assurance process will mean there are fewer
inspections than usual in November and December. To begin with,
all inspections will be led by the most senior and experienced
inspectors, assisted by Ofsted's permanent, in-house teams.
Part-time, external Ofsted Inspectors will be phased in following
training.
During autumn, a random sample of providers will be invited to
take part in ‘exit interviews' with His Majesty's Chief
Inspector, the National Director, and senior Ofsted officials to
hear about their inspection experience and reflect on the
implementation of the reforms. This is in addition to the
post-inspection survey that all education providers will still be
invited to complete.
Continuing Ofsted's commitment to transparency and listening to
feedback, His Majesty's Chief Inspector will also invite sector
representatives to a series of roundtable meetings to share their
thoughts on the renewed framework.
There will be no education inspections in the final week before
the Christmas break, to allow for further inspection
training.
Ofsted has also taken on board suggestions raised last week by
the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) and has announced a
series of wraparound measures to support a smooth start to the
framework, including:
- All requests for an inspection deferral will be reviewed by
Ofsted's Deputy Chief Inspector, to make sure each case is
treated with utmost sensitivity and consideration.
- Ofsted will work with the CST and others to ensure
all inspection guidance and material for providers is as
user-friendly as it can be.
- For openness and transparency, the Ofsted Academy will continue
to publish inspector training materials on its free-to-access
external platform.
- The telephone helpline, for leaders to raise queries and
concerns with a senior Ofsted leader in their region, will be
open before, during and after an inspection.
- During the first few months of inspections, Ofsted will
continually update an FAQ document online and
produce blogs sharing reflections and countering any emerging
myths.
- In addition to the webinars announced last
week, in November and December Ofsted will hold meetings
with representatives from each education remit, seeking their
feedback on early inspections. Ofsted is also exploring webinar
options for bodies responsible for governance and oversight,
such as school governors, multi-academy trusts, local
authorities and nursery chains.
Schools and other education providers have always had the right
to request an inspection at any time, and some have already
volunteered for an early inspection under the new framework.
While Ofsted cannot guarantee an early inspection, all such
requests will be considered on a case-by-case
basis.
His Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, said:
We're confident that our reforms will deliver an improved system
of education inspection, with real benefits for children and
their parents. But we're also serious about giving providers the
support they need to engage confidently and fairly with the
changes, and ensuring a steady and assured start to inspections
under the renewed framework.
I want to reassure everyone that we're taking every possible
measure to provide a consistent and high-quality inspection
experience for all, right from the off.
