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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| An overhaul is not enough: Ofsted must go | An overhaul is not enough: Ofsted must go |
| (2 days later) | |
| Responding to an article on Ruth Perry and proposals to reform Ofsted, Michael Pyke says public humiliation is no way to bring about improvement in schools. Plus a letter from Robert Dyson | Responding to an article on Ruth Perry and proposals to reform Ofsted, Michael Pyke says public humiliation is no way to bring about improvement in schools. Plus a letter from Robert Dyson |
| The scathing comments of Prof Julia Waters on the government’s proposed tweaks to the way Ofsted inspects and reports on schools are entirely justified and everything she says is completely true (Ruth Perry’s sister joins calls to pause proposed Ofsted overhaul, 28 April). | The scathing comments of Prof Julia Waters on the government’s proposed tweaks to the way Ofsted inspects and reports on schools are entirely justified and everything she says is completely true (Ruth Perry’s sister joins calls to pause proposed Ofsted overhaul, 28 April). |
| In the past 25 years, stress caused by Ofsted inspections has been cited in no fewer than 10 coroner’s reports and there is clear evidence that many more school leaders have considered taking their lives following a negative inspection. | In the past 25 years, stress caused by Ofsted inspections has been cited in no fewer than 10 coroner’s reports and there is clear evidence that many more school leaders have considered taking their lives following a negative inspection. |
| It is quite astonishing that the current “consultation” makes no reference to these shocking facts, while appearing to be based on the premise that a system that aims to “improve” schools by the deliberate use of public humiliation is fundamentally sound and just needs some cosmetic changes. | It is quite astonishing that the current “consultation” makes no reference to these shocking facts, while appearing to be based on the premise that a system that aims to “improve” schools by the deliberate use of public humiliation is fundamentally sound and just needs some cosmetic changes. |
| Ofsted’s only clearly observable “achievement” is to have brought about a crisis in the recruitment and retention of teachers. The government must know all this and it is time it had the courage to acknowledge that a complete rethink is well overdue.Michael PykeThe Campaign for State Education | |
| Julia Waters and others are right to question the role of Ofsted and the government’s consultation. The proposed changes are still based on the primacy of parental choice. That is misguided and damaging. The primacy for the state system should surely be to raise standards across the system. The current summative system demoralises many staff and can set some schools on a downward cycle. Schools in difficulties, often in the most challenging circumstances, should be supported, not named and shamed. This requires a formative assessment system. | Julia Waters and others are right to question the role of Ofsted and the government’s consultation. The proposed changes are still based on the primacy of parental choice. That is misguided and damaging. The primacy for the state system should surely be to raise standards across the system. The current summative system demoralises many staff and can set some schools on a downward cycle. Schools in difficulties, often in the most challenging circumstances, should be supported, not named and shamed. This requires a formative assessment system. |
| Of course, parents should be kept informed, but that could be by a report with commendations and recommendations together with an action plan for improvement developed jointly by the inspectors and the school. This radical change of approach could not be adopted by Ofsted. It would need to be disbanded and replaced by an office for school and college improvement.Robert DysonEmeritus professor, University of Warwick | |
| Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section. | Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section. |