| SPOTLIGHT |
An inquiry conducted by Beyond Ofsted, funded by the National Education Union (NEU), has called for an “immediate pause” to routine inspections to allow Ofsted to “regain trust” and has said that the watchdog should be reformed to focus on the work of multi academy trusts (MAT’s).
The report, chaired by former Schools Minister Lord Knight, claimed that Ofsted can be “detrimental” to school improvement, and particularly negatively affects schools in socio-economically deprived areas.
It added that inspectors are criticised for “inconsistency” and “lack of independence and expertise”, particularly around safeguarding.
The report described the watchdog as being in need of “major reform”. The authors wrote: “Our research found that it is currently seen as not fit for purpose, and as having a detrimental impact on schools which some perceive as toxic”.
Under the model proposed by Beyond Ofsted, schools would conduct an annual self-evaluation, or ‘school performance review’ (SPR), which it would report to stakeholders.
The government would work with the sector to develop guidance on what the SPR should comprise, which might include “mandatory and optional elements”.
While the action plan would be published, it wouldn’t be graded and schools would not be held accountable by the DfE or Ofsted. Beyond Ofsted said: “The purposes of the school performance reviews are to enhance schools’ capacity for self-improvement”.
However, school groups (including local authorities and single academy trusts where relevant) would be inspected by Ofsted on a “regular cycle” of every three to five years.
Inspections of governance would be published, but with no “single-phrase” judgement. If “significant failure”, is found, Ofsted could impose an interim executive board to replace the governance body.
The report finally recommended an “immediate pause” of routine inspections, “to allow time to reset and regain the trust of the profession”.
The authors added, however, that parents and governing bodies would retain the right to call for a school-level inspection if concerns are raised.
The report comes after a national debate around Ofsted inspections, following the death of Ruth Perry, a headteacher who took her own life while waiting for a report that downgraded her school to "inadequate" earlier this year.
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “Children only get one chance at education, and inspection helps make sure that education standards are high for all children. The current inspection system was developed after extensive consultation with the education sector and parents.
“We always want inspections to be a constructive experience for school staff. Our inspectors are all former or current school leaders and well understand the nature and pressures of the work. After every inspection we ask schools whether they believe the inspection will help them improve. Nine out of 10 say it will."
Lottie Winson
