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Nearly all of college leaders imagine headline grades awarded by Ofsted are unreliable, a survey suggests.
Greater than 4 in 5 (85%) college leaders stated they had been “unconfident” in Ofsted, based on a ballot of members of the NAHT college leaders’ union.
The findings come on the identical day that Amanda Spielman is about to publish her remaining annual report because the chief inspector of Ofsted.
The survey, of 1,890 college leaders in September and October, discovered that solely a fifth felt Ofsted inspection experiences present helpful data for folks.
Almost two in three (64%) college leaders disagreed that the headline grade given by Ofsted for a college’s total effectiveness was dependable.
When requested how they felt about their college’s subsequent Ofsted inspection, the highest 5 phrases given by leaders had been anxious, sick, careworn, terrified and dread.
The inspectorate has confronted repeated calls to revamp its college rankings system – which makes use of one-word judgments – following the loss of life of headteacher Ruth Perry in January.
Ms Perry’s household say she took her personal life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Main College in Studying from its highest ranking to its lowest over safeguarding considerations.
Her loss of life is the topic of an inquest attributable to begin subsequent week.
Paul Whiteman, common secretary of the NAHT, stated: “It is a fairly damning indictment of how far Ofsted has misplaced its approach.
“Removed from driving college enchancment, inspections are seen as inaccurate, unreliable, and of little use to oldsters or faculties. Ofsted is clearly now not match for function, even after the restricted adjustments it was pressured to make within the wake of the Ruth Perry tragedy.”
Mr Whiteman added: “The influence of a single phrase judgment that can’t probably seize a whole-school efficiency might be devastating.
“And it’s not solely a ‘unhealthy’ grade that may be damaging – many college leaders with optimistic inspection outcomes speak powerfully concerning the destructive influence of the inspection course of on their well being.
“Sadly, the one conclusion that may be drawn is that Ofsted is damaged. This have to be a wake-up name to authorities, and the primary precedence for the brand new chief inspector when he begins in January.”
An inquiry has stated Ofsted is in want of main reform and is seen as ‘not match for function’ (Ben Birchall, PA)
(PA Wire)
Earlier this week, an inquiry into the way forward for college inspection concluded that Ofsted was in want of main reform and was seen as “not match for function”.
The Past Ofsted inquiry, chaired by former faculties minister Lord Knight and sponsored by the Nationwide Training Union (NEU), referred to as for “transformational change”.
One other report, from the Institute for Public Coverage Analysis, instructed that “overly simplistic” college inspection judgments usually set off abrupt adjustments to administration, which has fuelled a “soccer supervisor tradition”.
In June, Ofsted introduced adjustments to enhance inspection preparations and scale back pressures on academics and heads following the loss of life of Ms Perry.
An Ofsted spokesperson stated: “Youngsters solely get one probability at an schooling, and inspection ensures that requirements are excessive for all youngsters.
“We all the time need inspections to be as optimistic an expertise for headteachers and college leaders as they are often.
“After each inspection we ask faculties whether or not they imagine the inspection will assist them enhance. 9 out of 10 say it should.”
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