Positive Reform For
A Trusted Ofsted
WE ARE CALLING FOR A COLLABORATIVE, TRANSPARENT AND EFFECTIVE EDUCATION INSPECTORATE
Why Ofsted should be reformed
The teaching profession is at breaking point, and Ofsted is a major factor behind it.
Teachers are not given enough time to prepare for an inspection.
Inspectors are known to focus on minor details.
Reports are too high level, not containing useful information or a strong evidence base.
Good practice and pupil achievement is ignored.
There is no meaningful way to complain.
Ofsted itself is almost entirely unaccountable to the Department for Education and to Parliament.
This has to stop! Ofsted needs to be reformed for the sake of teachers, and ultimately for the sake of pupils.
Please read our Charter for Reform and add your name to our open letter for POSITIVE REFORM FOR A TRUSTED OFSTED.
CORE PRINCIPLES
A Collaborative Ofsted
- Collaboration with teachers, parents and the community.
- School freedom to design age-appropriate and culturally sensitive curriculums.
- School autonomy to decide how best to teach and discipline pupils.
- Inspection training to be representative of schools under inspection.
A Transparent Ofsted
- Robust and effective accountability for decision making.
- An open evidence base for inspection decisions.
- Full and open avenues for dialogue between Ofsted and schools.
- Inspector independence alongside stakeholder input.
A Trusted Ofsted
- Inspections re-focused around education and learning.
- Trust and independence in the complaints process.
- Greater opportunities for parental and community dialogue with Ofsted.
- Full confidence in the judgements of the inspectorate.
Charter for Reform
We believe in positively reforming Ofsted to maintain the many benefits that the inspectorate has to offer while resolving core issues.
3 Ways Ofsted Can Be Positively Reformed
A. Accountability
- Introduce independence into the complaints process
- Provide a more robust evidence base for making decisions
- Establish an independent Commission for reviewing decisions and reports
- Enable greater scrutiny and transparency
B. Re-focus on education
- Respect the statutory remit and DfE guidelines
- Return to focusing on pupil educational achievement
- Review inspector training and methods of evidence collection
C. Collaboration
- Create greater collaboration with teachers, parents and communities
- Provide more constructive advice to schools
- Widen opportunities for schools to challenge reports
Practitioners Speak Out
I trust Ofsted far less than when I started off in teaching. It doesn't raise our educational standards - it it counterproductive."
I have seen many good schools downgraded and then become absorbed into huge businesses run by CEOs with zero interest in education. It seems to be a political education policy to exert control over schools. Ofted should be more accountable."
"Ofsted used to operate an inverse relationship between performance and scrutiny – that is, the better a school’s outcomes, the less critique it could expect as to its pedagogy. Where has this principle gone?
Also, Ofsted is becoming and/or wants to become the default enforcer of all youth-related issues, from careers to sexuality to racial harmony, to mental health. Its remit is huge."Ofsted in the news
Ofsted promises changes after head teacher Ruth Perry’s death
Ofsted should be abolished, teaching union NASUWT agrees
