Commenting on Ofsted’s annual
report, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of
School and College Leaders, said:
“Amanda Spielman’s observation that the social contract between
parents and schools has been fractured reflects what we are
hearing from many school leaders. There has indeed been a
troubling shift in pupil behaviour, attendance and attitudes
towards education since the pandemic, and parents are
increasingly willing to challenge school rules themselves.
“This applies to a minority of parents and pupils, but it is a
significant problem, absorbing time and energy and putting school
leaders and staff under enormous additional pressure and stress.
We appeal to parents to understand that school rules are there
for the good of the whole school community and to support their
schools.
“There also needs to be a much greater focus by the government to
address the wider issues which are often associated with these
problems. Poor mental health, unmet special educational needs,
and a lack of funding and support services are all part of this
picture. It will be difficult to rebuild the social contract
between parents and schools without also rebuilding the
infrastructure of family support services which has been eroded
over the past 13 years.
“Ofsted’s annual report also draws attention to the staff
recruitment and retention issues in early years, schools and
further education. Nothing we heard in the Autumn Statement
yesterday encourages us to think that there is any meaningful
recognition of these problems on the part of the government.
Ministers must take a more strategic approach which addresses pay
and systemic workload pressures.
“Finally, we would like to thank Amanda Spielman for the
constructive way in which she has engaged and worked with ASCL
over the past seven years as Ofsted Chief Inspector. We have not
always agreed but she has always listened and responded. The
inspection system needs fundamental reform to scrap punitive and
counterproductive graded judgements – but that is a decision
which lies with the government.”
