Chief Inspector pledges that Ofsted will champion high standards
for all children, especially the most disadvantaged and
vulnerable
The Big Listen opens today and will run for 12 weeks, seeking
views about Ofsted’s work from parents, carers and professionals
in education and social care
The Big Listen will be followed by ‘real action’, and marks a new
chapter in Ofsted’s relationship with the education and care
sectors
Ofsted’s new Chief Inspector will pledge to put the interests of
disadvantaged children at the heart of future reforms, as he
launches a major public consultation on Ofsted’s work. The Big
Listen, which will run for 3 months, is a wide-reaching and
comprehensive effort to hear from the full range of professionals
and providers it works with, as well as the parents, carers,
children and learners it works for.
Launching the consultation at the Association of School and
College Leaders (ASCL) Conference in Liverpool on Friday morning,
the Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, will say:
‘We want to see high standards for all children, and positive
outcomes for all children. This is how we start to tackle
disadvantage as a society – by opening new doors, creating new
opportunities and better life chances.
‘We don’t want disadvantage or vulnerability to be a barrier.
Because if you get it right for the most disadvantaged, you get
it right for everyone. Ofsted has a crucial role to play in
making sure that happens, and pointing out when it doesn’t.’
Sir Martyn will also appeal to as many people as possible to get
involved in the Big Listen, promising that he has big ambitions
for Ofsted and the impact it can have.
He will say:
‘We need to listen to feedback. To criticism. To ideas for small
changes and for big reforms.
‘If your work, your children, your decisions, your education or
your care are impacted by what we do, we want to hear from you.
Every voice will be heard, and nothing is off the table.’
The Big Listen consultation, published online today, asks a
series of questions to help shape the conversation and provide a
sense of direction for the changes Ofsted could make. The
questions are based around 4 themes:
- How Ofsted reports on its findings
- How Ofsted carries out inspections
- How Ofsted can have a positive impact in all the sectors it
inspects
- What Ofsted needs to do to be a world-class inspectorate and
regulator, trusted by parents, children and the sectors it works
with
Ofsted will launch a strand of the consultation specifically
aimed at children, including those in the care system, later this
month.
As well as the online consultation, independent organisations
will carry out surveys and focus groups with parents and
professionals to gather their views on Ofsted’s future direction.
Ofsted staff will also gather views directly at a variety of
events and meetings.
In his first major speech since becoming Chief Inspector, Sir
Martyn will tell the audience of school and college leaders that
he wants the Big Listen to mark a new chapter in Ofsted’s
relationship with the sector:
‘I hope the steps I’ve taken in my first 2 months show you that
I’m serious. Serious about Ofsted doing better. Serious about
making a difference. And serious about working with the sector to
make sure all children have the best possible education, care,
and life chances.’
Ofsted has a unique position in that it sees almost all of the
services that affect a child’s life, especially a vulnerable
child’s life, from their childminder or nursery, throughout their
education and training. And for children who need additional care
or support, this includes children’s services and support for
children with special educational needs and/or disabilities
(SEND).
Under Sir Martyn’s leadership, Ofsted will use this unique
position to understand what it is like to be a child in every
area of the country, with a particular focus on disadvantage –
reporting on how children are helped to succeed, and where
children fall through gaps because education and care services
are not good enough.
The Big Listen consultation will run for 12 weeks, closing on 31
May 2024. For more information and to complete the consultation,
visit the Big Listen webpage: Ofsted Big Listen: draft
preview (to note this link will work until 00.01
Friday 8 March at which point the consultation will be available
through our website)
Ofsted will carefully analyse all the responses to the Big Listen
consultation and publish its conclusions and plans later this
year.
Notes to editors
- In addition to the Big Listen, Ofsted has already:
- published a full response to the
Coroner’s inquest into the tragic death of headteacher,
Ruth Perry
- delivered an immediate package of training for inspectors
on mental health awareness
- introduced a new policy on pausing a
school inspection
- made clarifications to inspection handbooks, including
setting out how leaders can raise concerns during an
inspection, who can attend inspection meetings, and the
sharing of provisional outcomes
- Ofsted will shortly publish a response to the Education
Select Committee’s report on its inquiry into Ofsted’s work.
