Ofsted should champion disadvantaged schools – not penalise them

The new Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has rapidly implemented changes during inspections to improve the focus on staff wellbeing. We welcome this. It is an important and overdue step. 

But nothing changes the fact that inspections themselves continue to be a high-stakes nightmare for far too many school and college leaders.

It is not only the inspection that drives this stress and anxiety but the cycle of weekly dread about when and whether the Ofsted call may come. 

No sensible accountability system can continue to operate in this way – damaging the wellbeing of staff, driving people out of the profession, and stigmatising the schools and colleges which most need support.