Ofsted’s New Proposals for School Inspections: A Step in the Right Direction or a Repeat of the Past?
Ofsted, England’s education inspectorate, has released proposals for a new approach to inspecting schools and other education providers. The proposals are currently under consultation with parents, teachers, education professionals, and learners invited to share their views.
A New Era for Ofsted?
These proposals mark the latest changes to Ofsted after the public outcry following the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry in January 2023. The coroner’s report in December 2023 ruled that the Ofsted inspection had contributed to Perry’s suicide. However, the proposals neglect key areas that we believe should change, including the behavior of inspectors and the process of inspecting schools.
Report Cards
Central to the proposed changes is the introduction of report cards, which will replace a system that gave schools a headline judgment of "inadequate", "requires improvement", "good" or "outstanding". Instead, a range of aspects of a school’s remit – including leadership and governance, achievement, inclusion, attendance and personal development and wellbeing – will each be assessed on a five-point scale.
These range from "causing concern" (red on the report card) to "attention needed" (amber), "secure" (light green), "strong" (green) and "exemplary" (dark green). The grading scales will also focus on how schools support disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils, and there will be more emphasis on the local circumstances that schools operate in. Whether a school meets its safeguarding responsibilities will be assessed as either "met" or "not met".
Inspector Behavior and Accountability
There are two specific areas where we believe the new proposals have particularly failed. The first concerns inspectors’ conduct.
Ofsted’s chief inspector Martyn Oliver has maintained that Ofsted needs to become more empathic and respectful, emphasizing the moral and professional duty of inspectors. However, the consultation document states that "professional dialogue between inspectors and leaders will be a priority". But the appalling behavior that has been alleged of some inspectors is not acknowledged, and there is no indication as to how this culture of harm is being addressed.
The second concerns the inspection process. There is no mention of Ofsted becoming more accountable. In her independent learning review for Ofsted, former chief inspector Dame Christine Gilbert recommended the institution of an improved complaints system for when a school believes an inspection outcome is unfair. However, this is not mentioned in the proposals.
Conclusion
We would seek far more than a simple rebrand of the previous Ofsted model. Only a root and branch reform of the inspectorate would address the fundamental issues affecting teachers and schools.
FAQs
Q: What are the proposed changes to Ofsted’s inspection process?
A: The proposals include the introduction of report cards, which will replace the current system of headline judgments, and a greater emphasis on supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils.
Q: How will inspectors be expected to behave?
A: Ofsted’s chief inspector Martyn Oliver has emphasized the need for inspectors to be more empathic and respectful, but there is no indication as to how this culture of harm is being addressed.
Q: Will Ofsted become more accountable?
A: No, there is no mention of Ofsted becoming more accountable in the proposals.