Extracts from Sir Martyn Oliver’s speech to the ASCL annual conference

In his speech at the Association of School and College Leaders' annual conference in Liverpool on Friday, his Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, will reiterate his focus on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children, and explain why inclusion sits “rightly and proudly”at the heart of Ofsted's work.

Sir Martyn will go on to deplore “the quiet curse of low expectations” - the notion that some children are destined to achieve less because of their background - and firmly reject the suggestion that Ofsted should accept a lower standard of education at schools with a high proportion of disadvantaged pupils.

Instead, he will set out that the renewed framework is setting a “more exacting” standard, with more schools receiving ‘needs attention' grades as Ofsted raises expectations.

Sir Martyn will explain how inspection recognises the challenging contexts many schools are working in, while still championing outcomes for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable. He is expected to say: 

We see thousands of schools working in challenging contexts, bucking the odds again and again to give children a life-changing education. But we sometimes see disadvantaged and vulnerable children who are not making the strides that they should. 

Some would have this be a dilemma for Ofsted. They argue we should recognise the work and the effort – and downplay disappointing outcomes. 

But this is no dilemma. 

Of course we will recognise the work, celebrate where that school is doing well and identify the contextual challenges being faced. But we can never downplay the disappointing outcomes. 

We will never acquiesce to the quiet curse of low expectations that would see Ofsted prioritise context over outcomes for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children.  

That isn't why I became a teacher, leader and Chief Inspector. And it isn't why you joined our great profession either. 

Sir Martyn will say he recognises where this “pernicious - if well-intentioned - thread of thinking comes from” but reassert that outcomes matter and Ofsted will not expect children to achieve less because of geography or socio-economic status. He will continue:

Children don't take good intentions into their next phase of education. They take exam grades, reading proficiency, the character you imbue in them.  

We can never – and will never – ignore these outcomes. But we do know it is harder for schools working in challenging communities. 

Those who would lower the bar are right that Ofsted must appreciate the context in which these schools are working. We must consider starting points and recognise where great work is taking place.  

Their misplaced desire for Ofsted to lower the bar stems from a deep empathy with the professionals working in the most challenging contexts.

But that lowering of the bar masks an ultimately damaging belief that some children ‘just won't get there'. 

I don't believe we can ever afford to accept that. 

Because when we expect less of certain children, whether because of where they live, what they need, or what's happening at home, what we are telling them is: ‘We expect less of you. Society expects less of you.'

So my commitment to you is this: I will make sure our report cards recognise where schools deliver against the odds. I will ensure context is seen as a core part of the assessment.  

But we will never succumb to the quiet curse of low expectations.

Sir Martyn will say, as the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, Ofsted's aim is always to raise standards and improve lives. And the renewed inspection framework and report cards are more exacting for that reason: 

We are coming from a place where more than 90% of schools were previously judged good or outstanding at their most recent inspection. That suggests less than 10% of schools in the country need any improvement. 

But our job is to point out where expectations can and should be raised. The new report cards do this. 

Take the 'needs attention' grade. We are seeing more schools receive this grade than the old ‘requires improvement' because we are raising standards. We are being more exacting. I make no apologies for that.  

I am proud that we, as a school system, have raised standards in this country over recent decades. Children here are realising some of the best results in the world – from primary reading to secondary mathematics.  

We did that! The hard work of great people in this room. 

And it is because of the progress we have made that Ofsted can raise expectations higher still.

Sir Martyn will address the conference at 10.30am on Friday and his full speech will be published on Ofsted's website soon after.