Responding to a report from the Education Select Committee, which
states that major changes must be made to inspections in order
for Ofsted to rebuild trust, Tom Middlehurst, Inspection
Specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders,
said:
“The Education Select Committee has identified what the education
profession already understands only too well, that inspections
can have devastating consequences for school and college leaders.
“We are pleased that the Committee has added their voice to the
calls from ASCL and many others for an alternative to
single-phrase judgements, which must now be consigned to history
once a new system can be agreed upon and effectively implemented.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that a more nuanced system can
better inform schools and parents, while removing unnecessary
pressure on staff. As part of this, it’s important that
inspectors fully take into account a school’s circumstances and
the unique challenges they face. It is encouraging that the
Committee has recognised the need for contextual factors, such as
the level of disadvantage in the community, to be taken into
account during inspection and reflected in reports. Ensuring that
lead inspectors have expertise in the phase of the setting being
inspected should also help aid understanding of a school’s
individual context.
“The work already carried out by the new HMCI has given grounds
for cautious optimism, but this report underlines the scale of
the challenge in front of him. There is a great deal that needs
to change in order for Ofsted to win back the trust of the
profession.”
