Commenting on a working paper by UCL researchers, published
today, which looks at 2018 Talis to weigh up the pros and cons of
school accountability in the English schools system, Kevin
Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education
Union, said:
“We have known from our own data and the government's workload
survey that accountability drives workload. This important
analysis from UCL, showing that England is towards the top of the
international accountability scale, now points to links between
accountability and stress. Both high workload and high stress are
factors in teachers and leaders deciding to leave the profession.
“The UCL analysis also highlights cases of schools where stress
caused by accountability is higher than in others. We know from
our members that in-school accountability processes, imposed
because of the pressures of Ofsted and league tables, are often
causes of pointless bureaucracy and stressful managerialism.
“This is obviously a long-term problem, but it is particularly
clear at this time that it's not helpful for Ofsted to continue
to inspect schools and colleges while staff are working hard to
reintegrate their students back into the classroom after a year
dominated by lockdowns. Right now, we need an undivided focus on
what matters.
“There needs to be an overhaul of the whole accountability
system, including league tables and how Ofsted inspects, if we
are to stop teachers and leaders leaving because of unmanageable
stress levels, and if we are to encourage new teachers into the
profession.”
