Commenting on the statement from the Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, on calls for Ofsted reform, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“Today’s statement is a necessary recognition of the urgent need for a better approach to school inspection. However, it is clear from the proposals outlined that Ofsted has not properly listened to, or reflected enough about, the concerns and harms that teachers and leaders have spoken out about for so long.
‘For the most part, Ofsted's proposals try to make a bad system more bearable, without making serious changes.
It’s important that Ofsted recognises that its approach to safeguarding needs to change, particularly when the changes schools can make sometimes require very little effort to put right. This must be a consistent approach adopted by all school inspectors. It’s urgent that Ofsted reviews its complaints process because it is clear the current system is neither robust nor transparent. Ofsted continues to be out of touch in its continued confidence in ‘single word’ judgements. These headline grades are a significant factor in the reductive and stress - inducing approach that works against school improvement and that often contributes to a negative cycle for schools, particularly those serving the most disadvantaged communities.
