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Ofsted to relax schools inspections Ofsted to relax inspections as school standards rise
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Ofsted is to announce significant changes to the school inspection system in England following criticism from head teachers and rightwing critics and evidence of rising standards in schools.Ofsted is to announce significant changes to the school inspection system in England following criticism from head teachers and rightwing critics and evidence of rising standards in schools.
Its head, Sir Michael Wilshaw, is planning a lighter-touch regime for schools that are deemed good or outstanding now that three in five schools meet that judgment. Its head, Sir Michael Wilshaw, is planning a lighter-touch regime for schools that are deemed good or outstanding now that three in five schools meet that judgment.
These schools will be visited every two years by one senior inspector – known as an HMI – although schools seen as being in decline or on the verge of outstanding will face a fuller inspection from teams including contracted inspectors, who critics have said are sometimes not sufficiently trained to do a reliable job. These schools will be visited every two years by one senior inspector – known as an HMI – though schools seen as being in decline or on the verge of outstanding will face a fuller inspection from teams including contracted inspectors, who critics have said are sometimes not sufficiently trained to do a reliable job.
Wilshaw detailed the changes – first revealed by the Guardian earlier this month – at a conference of head teachers and deputies in Birmingham. He told the BBC's Today programme: "We see little point in a team of four or five inspectors turning up every five years, or seven years if it is a converter academy, and confirming what the school already knows and the data already says – that it that it is a good school." He would much rather target those schools in special measures or requiring improvement with "strong interventions". Wilshaw detailed the changes – first revealed by the Guardian this month – at a conference of head teachers and deputies in Birmingham. He told the BBC's Today programme: "We see little point in a team of four or five inspectors turning up every five years, or seven years if it is a converter academy, and confirming what the school already knows and the data already says – that it that it is a good school." He would much rather target those schools in special measures or requiring improvement with "strong interventions".
"We are suggesting a good school will see an inspection of a one-day visit of an HMI once every two years and that HMI will discuss the data with the head teacher and the governors of the school and senior staff and engage in professional dialogue with the school and make a judgment as to whether the school is still a good school," Wilshaw said."We are suggesting a good school will see an inspection of a one-day visit of an HMI once every two years and that HMI will discuss the data with the head teacher and the governors of the school and senior staff and engage in professional dialogue with the school and make a judgment as to whether the school is still a good school," Wilshaw said.
If the school was no longer good and the HMI thought there had been a steep decline, the inspector would recommend a full inspection, he added. "Conversely, if it is on the verge of outstanding status, exactly the same." He added: "I want all our inspectors to be employed by Ofsted, all inspections to be led by HMIs and I want to move incrementally to that position."If the school was no longer good and the HMI thought there had been a steep decline, the inspector would recommend a full inspection, he added. "Conversely, if it is on the verge of outstanding status, exactly the same." He added: "I want all our inspectors to be employed by Ofsted, all inspections to be led by HMIs and I want to move incrementally to that position."
Wilshaw denied some teachers' criticism that the existing system was like the Spanish Inquisition, although he said undergoing inspection was "a difficult and challenging experience". Any replacement would not be a soft option, he insisted. Wilshaw denied some teachers' criticism that the existing system was like the Spanish Inquisition, though he said undergoing inspection was "a difficult and challenging experience". Any replacement would not be a soft option, he insisted.
Brian Lightman, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Lecturers (ASCL), said the Ofsted plans were "absolutely welcome", adding that they were "in line with the position paper that we are publishing today and what we have been saying about inspection".Brian Lightman, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Lecturers (ASCL), said the Ofsted plans were "absolutely welcome", adding that they were "in line with the position paper that we are publishing today and what we have been saying about inspection".
The existing system had led to heads unfairly losing their jobs, he said. "What happens sometimes is, on the back on inspection which recognises that schools have got areas to improve but they are still schools which are doing lots of good things, people are losing their jobs on the back of it.That's putting people off going for a headship and that's very worrying," Lightman said. The existing system had led to heads unfairly losing their jobs, he said. "What happens sometimes is, on the back of inspection which recognises that schools have got areas to improve but they are still schools which are doing lots of good things, people are losing their jobs on the back of it.That's putting people off going for a headship and that's very worrying," Lightman said.
Although he said his organisation was "very aware" of the negative impact inspections could have on schools, Lightman said: "We are not in the camp that wants to abolish inspections or anything like that."Although he said his organisation was "very aware" of the negative impact inspections could have on schools, Lightman said: "We are not in the camp that wants to abolish inspections or anything like that."
A poll of 900 secondary school heads and deputies by the ACSL and TES magazine suggests a broad distrust of the Ofsted inspection process, with 65% saying they do not have have confidence in judgments. The verdict is slightly better when it comes down to recent personal experience, with 57% rating inspectors during their own most recent inspections as either good or outstanding. A poll of 900 secondary school heads and deputies by the ACSL and TES magazine suggests a broad distrust of the Ofsted inspection process, with 65% saying they do not have confidence in judgments. The verdict is slightly better when it comes down to recent personal experience, with 57% rating inspectors during their own most recent inspections as either good or outstanding.
Wilshaw, who has been seen to be at loggerheads with Michael Gove and his department in recent weeks, said he had a "very good relationship" with the education secretary, who was "a radical and transformative secretary of state". But he also said he had wanted the Labour peer Lady Morgan to stay on for a second term as Ofsted chair instead of being replaced as Gove intends. Wilshaw, who has been seen to be at loggerheads with Michael Gove and his department in recent weeks, said he had a "very good relationship" with the education secretary, who was "a radical and transformative secretary of state". But he also said he had wanted the Labour peer Sally Morgan to stay on for a second term as Ofsted chair instead of being replaced as Gove intends.
"That is a political decision for the secretary of state for education", said Wilshaw, adding that Lady Morgan "has been a good chair of Ofsted and I would be very happy to work with her"."That is a political decision for the secretary of state for education", said Wilshaw, adding that Lady Morgan "has been a good chair of Ofsted and I would be very happy to work with her".