There is no evidence that Ofsted is a force for improvement and the inspectorate’s response to the death of Ruth Perry shows just how out of touch it is, says Dr Mary Bousted
The recent annual conference of the National Education Union (NEU) has given me pause to reflect on my two decades as a general secretary, first of the ATL (Association of Teachers and Lecturers) and now the NEU.
I will soon be stepping down, as will my good friend and colleague Kevin Courtney, at the end of August.
My closing speech was certainly an emotional one, and although I will still be working on behalf of members for a few months yet, the writing of that speech was an opportunity for me to step back and assess how far – or in some cases how little – things have changed since 2003.
We have certainly seen changes of government and radical shifts in education policy in that time – but there remain a few stubborn constants.
