Commenting on Ofsted’s response to the Prevention of Future
Deaths report issued by the coroner in the inquest into the death
of headteacher Ruth Perry, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the
Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“The actions taken by Ofsted do not address all the problems with
the inspection system, but they are positive steps in the right
direction, in particular a mechanism to pause an inspection when
leaders are showing signs of distress.
“This must be the beginning of a process for Ofsted and the
government to improve the way in which schools and colleges are
inspected – one that makes the system fairer, less punitive and
more supportive.
“Our discussions with Ofsted and its new Chief Inspector, Sir
Martyn Oliver, over the past few weeks have given us grounds for
cautious optimism that there is a genuine willingness to reset
the relationship between the inspectorate and those it inspects.
This is badly needed because that relationship has reached rock
bottom, and it will take time and energy to win the confidence of
a sector that feels battered and bruised by an excessively harsh
inspection system.
“Most importantly, the real test of the new measures and the
change of tone signalled by Sir Martyn will be what actually
happens on the ground in inspections. We will be asking our
members to give us feedback about how inspections are going in
their settings and whether they are seeing a more supportive
approach.
“We will also continue to campaign for the wider system reform
that is clearly necessary to scrap the current system of one-word
or two-word judgements which is such an obvious driver of stress
and anxiety, and which is so counterproductive when it results in
a negative rating.”
