School leaders’ union NAHT today (Weds 17 Jan) publishes a ‘bold’
new vision for the future of Ofsted, in a new report into school
accountability and inspection. The report comes as inspections
are due to resume on Monday 22nd January.
The report makes a series of recommendations on the changes the
education profession believe is needed from Ofsted, both in the
short-term, to make inspection immediately safer, and the
longer-term reforms required to deliver a ‘fair, proportionate
and humane’ inspection system.
As part of NAHT’s immediate call to action, it is recommending
that Ofsted not only conducts a full review to learn from the
Ruth Perry case, and reviews its training and oversight of
inspectors, but that it:
- Immediately implements a mechanism for school leaders to halt
an inspection where inspector conduct or practice fails to meet
required standards,
- Extends the notice period schools receive for inspection,
- And temporarily reverts to a model of ungraded inspections
for all schools, similar to those conducted during the pandemic
period, to allow time to work on longer-term reform.
The report also includes new data from a survey of nearly 2,000
school leaders, which shows that barely any respondents (only 3%)
support Ofsted’s continued use of single word or phrase
overarching judgements.
Instead, around two-thirds (64%) of leaders believe that Ofsted
inspectors should report their findings in a short, written
summary of strengths and weaknesses. Leaders are sceptical about
proposals for report cards, with only 14% of respondents choosing
that option.
Commenting on the report, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of
school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “The tragic case of Ruth Perry
last year shone a bright light on the desperate need for Ofsted
reform. It has been immensely frustrating that the concerns of
the education profession and the warnings raised by NAHT for so
many years have fallen on deaf ears.
“Thankfully, the new Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, has
signalled a welcome change in attitude, indicating his
willingness to listen and to work with the profession.
“NAHT’s report today includes some immediate actions Ofsted needs
to take – some of which, Sir Martyn is already considering. But
more is needed, urgently, and NAHT will continue to work with
Ofsted to build a safe inspection system that is fit for purpose.
“The appointment of a new Chief Inspector is timely, not just so
that the immediate changes needed to keep school staff safe can
be made, but as a moment of significant opportunity – the chance
to be bold and to stop and think about how we want school
inspection to operate in this country.
“Now really is the moment for change. It is time to create a
fair, proportionate and humane system of inspection that works
for schools, pupils and parents alike.”
Further recommendations for longer-term reform suggested in the
report include:
- The removal of graded judgements and improvement of
inspection reports,
- Revision to the inspection framework and methodology,
- Separating safeguarding checks from inspection by handing
this administrative responsibility over to Local Authorities,
- Introducing inspection at Trust level,
- And designing a new, more independent, complaints procedure.
