The role of Ofsted is “poorly understood” and the inspectorate’s ability to build “school sector goodwill” is being “progressively curtailed” by its lack of funding, Amanda Spielman has said.
In a parting shot to critics in her final annual report before she leaves office next month, the chief inspector said she saw from schools “a wave of publicly expressed discontent about issues that Ofsted alone cannot resolve”.
The watchdog has faced fierce criticism this year following the death of Caversham Primary School headteacher Ruth Perry. Her family said she took her own life before the publication of an inspection report rating the school ‘inadequate’.
The annual report has been published earlier than usual, and ahead of an inquest into Perry’s death, which begins next week.
