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No-notice Ofsted inspections reveal school weaknesses Ofsted rejects claims schools downgraded as 'too white'
(about 2 hours later)
Ofsted has uncovered problems with poor teaching, inadequate governing bodies and failures to safeguard pupils against extremism in a wave of school inspections without warning. Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has said it is "nonsense" to claim that schools would be criticised by inspectors for being "too white".
The watchdog carried out 35 no-notice visits across England in September. It follows claims the demand for schools to promote "British values", in the wake of the Trojan Horse investigations, was punishing schools for a lack of multiculturalism.
It followed concerns from the Trojan Horse investigations in Birmingham that schools could conceal unacceptable behaviour before inspections. "This is not about political correctness," said Sir Michael.
The reports are to be published in full later on Tuesday. He was speaking as Ofsted published the findings of 35 no-warning inspections.
For this wave of inspections, Ofsted's teams arrived at schools without any prior warning. Ofsted's surprise inspections uncovered problems with poor teaching, inadequate governing bodies and failures to safeguard pupils against extremism in a wave of school inspections without warning.
Sharp declines 'Modern Britain'
In one of the schools, Highfield junior and infant in Birmingham, neither the head teacher nor the chair of governors was available when inspectors arrived. This downgraded 23 schools, with 11 of these put into the inadequate category. Three of these had been judged as outstanding in previous inspections.
Despite their absence, the school was downgraded from "requires improvement" to "inadequate". Ofsted says a number of these inadequate schools were "failing to teach respect for other faiths or developing pupils' awareness and knowledge of communities different from their own".
Ofsted has not yet named the 35 schools included in this series of inspections, but the Watchsted.com website, which tracks inspection reports, has been able to identify more than 30 schools receiving no-notice visits during those weeks. The wave of unannounced inspections, carried out in September, followed concerns from the Trojan Horse inquiries in Birmingham that if schools were given advance warning of inspections they could conceal unacceptable behaviour.
This group includes 18 being downgraded from previous inspections with 11 being put into the inadequate category. None of the schools facing snap inspections has been given higher grades than on previous Ofsted visits. The Trojan Horse investigations, examining claims that schools were being targeted by groups with a hardline Muslim agenda, warned that some pupils did not know enough about other communities or other beliefs.
There are some schools and colleges with particularly sharp declines. This prompted a requirement for schools to promote British values of mutual respect, tolerance and understanding of other cultures.
Damson Wood nursery and infant school in Solihull in Birmingham has dropped from outstanding to inadequate, with inspectors reporting that it was in a "muddled and chaotic position". But this has proved problematic, with accusations that it is causing unintended consequences, including warnings from Christian and Jewish schools and schools which have a predominantly white intake.
The Charles Dickens School in Broadstairs, Kent, has been downgraded from good to inadequate. Last week, there was high-profile coverage when a school in Lincolnshire, with few ethnic minority pupils, was not found to be outstanding because pupils lacked "first-hand experience of the diverse make-up of modern British society".
Fyndoune Community College in Durham and Durham Community Business College for Technology and Enterprise have gone from outstanding grades to inadequate. This was reported as a school being criticised as "too white".
Trojan Horse There were claims that a Catholic school in Suffolk had been initially downgraded for not teaching their children enough about preventing radicalisation - but this was subsequently withdrawn.
The call for no-warnings inspections came in the wake of the Trojan Horse inquiries into claims that schools in Birmingham were being targeted by groups promoting a hardline Muslim agenda. A Church of England representative warned that tolerance and mutual respect would not be achieved through "an ever increasing inspection regime".
There were concerns that half a day's notice was allowing schools to give a false impression. The National Association of Orthodox Jewish Schools warned that the "changing requirements" about British values were prompting "insensitive and inappropriate" questions during inspections.
But the group of schools which has faced these latest inspections are not focused on any particular region or type of school. 'Diverse society'
They include a range of faith and non-faith schools and were selected because of concerns about falling standards. But the Ofsted chief has dismissed such claims.
Despite the findings, these surprise inspections will not become the standard approach. "Ofsted would never criticise or penalise a school just because of its intake or because children of one particular heritage or religion predominate over another," said Sir Michael.
"It's nonsense, for example, to suggest we would mark down a school for being "too white". We simply want to ensure children are receiving a good education and are being prepared for life in modern Britain."
This was not about "political correctness", said Sir Michael, but about "being realistic about the diverse society we now live in".
"It would be wrong for inspectors to only criticise certain types of schools and not others if we find they aren't doing enough to promote respect and tolerance of others and an understanding of the core values that bind us together as a nation."
Despite the findings from this wave of surprise inspections this will not become the standard approach.
The proposal for such no-notice inspections received fierce criticism from head teachers.The proposal for such no-notice inspections received fierce criticism from head teachers.
"Moving to no notice for routine inspections is unnecessary and would be counter-productive. It stifles creativity and treats professionals like naughty children," Brian Lightman, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, had warned."Moving to no notice for routine inspections is unnecessary and would be counter-productive. It stifles creativity and treats professionals like naughty children," Brian Lightman, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, had warned.
This group of inspections showed the logistical difficulties - in one school neither the head nor the chair of governors was available on the day when inspectors arrived without warning.
In October, Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw confirmed that schools would continue to be given a half day's notice for standard inspections.In October, Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw confirmed that schools would continue to be given a half day's notice for standard inspections.
Sir Michael said that there were sufficient existing powers for no-notice inspections where there was evidence for such an intervention. Sir Michael said that there were existing powers for no-notice inspections where there was sufficient evidence for such an intervention.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: "We want every school to promote the basic British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs.
"This ensures young people understand the importance of respect and leave school ready to play their full part in British society.
"While the vast majority of schools successfully promote these values, we will not hesitate to step in when pupils are being let down."