The head of an academy trust once reported to have one of the highest suspension rates in England has been recommended as Ofsted’s new chief inspector by the Education Secretary.
Sir Martyn Oliver is the Department for Education’s preferred candidate to take over from Amanda Spielman, who has spent seven years in the role, due to his “track record of driving up standards in areas with high levels of disadvantage”.
Sir Martyn is currently chief executive of Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT), which has 41 primary, junior, secondary and alternative provision academies in the north of England.
There are 10 schools rated outstanding in the trust.
A Guardian investigation in 2018 found OGAT academies had some of the highest suspension and exclusion rates in England – with 41% of pupils at Outwood Academy Ormesby in Middlesbrough suspended for at least a day in the previous school year.
In an interview with Schools Week in 2018, Sir Martyn said suspensions “are about setting a reasonable level of behaviour in turnaround schools, to prevent chaos”.
He also told Schools Week suspensions were a “measure of what a school is willing to accept”.
In June, Ofsted announced changes to improve inspection arrangements and reduce pressures on teachers and school leaders following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
