Independent inquiry launched into Ofsted inspection in schools
Catherine Gaunt
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
The National Education Union is sponsoring a ‘timely and urgent’ independent inquiry into Ofsted to look at the current inspection system, in the wake of ongoing controversy and calls for reform.
Launched on Tuesday, ‘Beyond Ofsted – an inquiry into the future of school inspection’, aims to develop a set of principles for underpinning 'a better education system and proposals for an alternative approach' to the current regime.
Inquiry members include NEU members, head teachers, industry experts, and academics.
They say that Ofsted has become more ‘punitive than supportive’ and is leading to unimaginable levels of stress for teachers and school leaders, which does not serve children’s interests.
It will be chaired by former schools’ minister Jim Knight, now Lord Knight of Weymouth and a Labour peer, with the aim of setting a framework for an inspection system ‘fit for the increasingly complex needs of schools today.’
The inquiry will examine evidence from primary and secondary schools across the country, and will compare the current inspection system with those from other countries.
Proposals in a final report will be published in November 2023.
Chair, Lord Jim Knight, said, ‘Everyone agrees that schools need to be accountable, and to ensure they are, there needs to be a robust system in place. However, what we currently have with Ofsted is an approach that stirs up stress amongst school leaders that trickles down to staff and pupils.
‘Too often, it punishes rather than supports. The Beyond Ofsted inquiry will rigorously investigate the system and identify what is needed to make it fairer and more effective. A system that does not solely criticise but seeks to provide assistance, especially to those schools that need it most.’
The inquiry’s remit is focused on primary and secondary schools and does not include early years inspections.
'It is incredibly disappointing, therefore, that the new inquiry currently focuses so narrowly on schools, with no mention of the early years. We urge those leading this review to meet with early years representatives, including the Alliance, with a view to urgently widening the scope of the inquiry. We’re clear that any reform of the inspection system must apply to the entirety of the education sector, and not just part of it.'
A spokesperson said, ‘We hope it will be valuable to education professionals and policy makers.
‘Primary and secondary schools are the focus due to the distinct ways inspection impacts on this sector, including the way inspection interacts with other accountability mechanisms and education policy. The early years sector is not included in recognition of the distinct ways the Education Inspection framework is applied to different phases.’
The Early Years Alliance has called for the inquiry to be widened to include early years inspections.
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said, 'Nurseries, pre-schools and childminding professionals are all required to register with, and be regularly inspected by, Ofsted, and we know that many share the same concerns as their school colleagues: that the current system – and in particular, the single-word grading approach – has created a culture of fear and stress within the sector that is simply not sustainable.
'It is incredibly disappointing, therefore, that the new inquiry currently focuses so narrowly on schools, with no mention of the early years. We urge those leading this review to meet with early years representatives, including the Alliance, with a view to urgently widening the scope of the inquiry. We’re clear that any reform of the inspection system must apply to the entirety of the education sector, and not just part of it.'
Beyond Ofsted Inquiry Expert Advisory board members
Lord Jim Knight of Weymouth (Chair), Labour peer, director and chair, member of the House of Lords, Suklaa Ltd, E-ACT MAT Board of Trustees
Dr Kulvarn Atwal, Executive Head/Learning Leader, Highlands Primary School/Uphall Primary School
Melissa Benn, Writer and Campaigner, Founder of Local Schools Network Visiting professor York St John
Professor Alice Bradbury, Professor of Sociology of Education, UCL Institute of Education Co-director of the Helen Hamlyn Centre of Pedagogy
Patrick Cozier, headteacher, Highgate Wood School, Haringey
Caroline Derbyshire, CEO and Chair, Saffron Academy Trust Headteachers’ Roundtable
Jess Edwards, Chair of Policy, Research and Campaigns Executive Committee, NEU Primary teacher, Lambeth
Jason Elsom, CEO, Parentkind
Dr Zubaida Haque, Independent Consultant, Former CEO of the Equality Trust; Interim Director of the Runnymede Trust
Jo Hutchinson, Director for SEND and additional needs, Education Policy Institute
Andrew Morrish, director and co-founder, Makana Leadership Limited Headrest
Dr Bernadita Munoz Chereau, Lecturer, Centre for Leadership, UCL, Institute of Education
Dame Alison Peacock, CEO, Chartered College of Teaching
Professor Jane Perryman, Professor of Sociology of Education, UCL Institute of Education
Penny Rabiger, Independent Consultant, Doctoral Researcher at Leeds Beckett University; Co-founder of the BAMEed Network
Emma Rose Executive member NEU, Secondary teacher, Warwick
