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Ofsted's one-day school inspection warning | Ofsted's one-day school inspection warning |
(about 6 hours later) | |
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent | By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent |
Education watchdog Ofsted is to introduce "almost no notice" inspections in England, calling head teachers the day before arriving. | Education watchdog Ofsted is to introduce "almost no notice" inspections in England, calling head teachers the day before arriving. |
This follows the retreat from the earlier proposal to have school inspections without any warning at all. | This follows the retreat from the earlier proposal to have school inspections without any warning at all. |
Ofsted will also implement plans to replace the grading of "satisfactory" with "requires improvement". | Ofsted will also implement plans to replace the grading of "satisfactory" with "requires improvement". |
Chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw says inspectors will "return sooner" where schools need to improve. | Chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw says inspectors will "return sooner" where schools need to improve. |
Sir Michael is setting out changes to the inspection system to be introduced from September - after the consultation process launched in February. | Sir Michael is setting out changes to the inspection system to be introduced from September - after the consultation process launched in February. |
No longer satisfactory | No longer satisfactory |
The original proposal for inspectors to arrive unannounced proved highly controversial with head teachers. | The original proposal for inspectors to arrive unannounced proved highly controversial with head teachers. |
But Education Secretary Michael Gove signalled at a head teachers' conference that such no-notice inspections would not go ahead. | But Education Secretary Michael Gove signalled at a head teachers' conference that such no-notice inspections would not go ahead. |
The revised plan will mean "inspectors calling head teachers the afternoon before an inspection takes place". | The revised plan will mean "inspectors calling head teachers the afternoon before an inspection takes place". |
Ofsted says this will give schools a day's notice to make "logistical arrangements including notifying parents and governors of the inspection". | Ofsted says this will give schools a day's notice to make "logistical arrangements including notifying parents and governors of the inspection". |
The new arrangements will mean a tougher approach to how schools are described by inspectors. | The new arrangements will mean a tougher approach to how schools are described by inspectors. |
The "satisfactory" grade will no longer be satisfactory - and instead is going to become "requires improvement". | The "satisfactory" grade will no longer be satisfactory - and instead is going to become "requires improvement". |
Schools in this category will be re-inspected within two years - and if a school has not risen to "good" at a third inspection, it faces being deemed inadequate and placed in "special measures". | Schools in this category will be re-inspected within two years - and if a school has not risen to "good" at a third inspection, it faces being deemed inadequate and placed in "special measures". |
Ofsted says this means that this will mean schools in the "requires improvement" category will be expected to have reached "good" within four years. | Ofsted says this means that this will mean schools in the "requires improvement" category will be expected to have reached "good" within four years. |
"All schools and colleges can, and should, provide at least a good level of education," said Sir Michael. | "All schools and colleges can, and should, provide at least a good level of education," said Sir Michael. |
"Parents and employers, children and learners, expect nothing less. That is why we are introducing these changes to the way we inspect." | "Parents and employers, children and learners, expect nothing less. That is why we are introducing these changes to the way we inspect." |
Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, welcomed the shift on no-notice inspections, saying it "signifies a genuine attempt to work with schools on the best way to achieve those standards". | Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, welcomed the shift on no-notice inspections, saying it "signifies a genuine attempt to work with schools on the best way to achieve those standards". |
But the head of the NASUWT teachers' union, Chris Keates, attacked the changes as part of a wider "political denigration" of teachers. | But the head of the NASUWT teachers' union, Chris Keates, attacked the changes as part of a wider "political denigration" of teachers. |
"Parents and the public are entitled to expect an independent inspection system that holds schools properly to account to raise standards, free from government meddling and interference," she said. | "Parents and the public are entitled to expect an independent inspection system that holds schools properly to account to raise standards, free from government meddling and interference," she said. |
National Union of Teachers leader Christine Blower accused the "supposedly independent body" Ofsted of "doing the work of the education secretary". | National Union of Teachers leader Christine Blower accused the "supposedly independent body" Ofsted of "doing the work of the education secretary". |
"This relentless onslaught on dedicated and committed teachers by Ofsted must stop. School leaders feel entirely ground down by Ofsted," she said. | "This relentless onslaught on dedicated and committed teachers by Ofsted must stop. School leaders feel entirely ground down by Ofsted," she said. |
Nansi Ellis, head of education policy at the ATL teachers' union, also rejected the proposals: "Ofsted is discredited in the eyes of many teachers and needs to even work harder to regain their trust." | Nansi Ellis, head of education policy at the ATL teachers' union, also rejected the proposals: "Ofsted is discredited in the eyes of many teachers and needs to even work harder to regain their trust." |
A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: "Ofsted's plan for inspections will set a clear benchmark so that head teachers and teachers recognise what it takes to be a high performing school as well as knowing what needs to be done where improvement is necessary." |