The death of Headmistress Ruth Perry has highlighted the pressure Ofsted inspections can put on schools.
Ms Perry took her own life while awaiting confirmation that her previously “excellent” primary school had been downgraded to “inadequate”.
Some teachers’ unions have called for the inspections to be stopped, but the Department of Education says they are “hugely important”.
Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, inspects and reports on all bodies providing education for young people in England – including schools, nurseries and childminders.
Schools or organizations are inspected every four years or 30 months depending on their status and rated accordingly:
- 1 – excellent
- 2 – good
- 3 – needs improvement
- 4 – insufficient
Many parents rely on Ofsted ratings to help them choose a school or daycare for their child.
In November 2022, 88% of schools in England were rated as either excellent or good.
In Wales, inspections are carried out by Estyn, in Scotland by Education Scotland and in Northern Ireland by the Education and Training Inspectorate.
Schools rated as good or excellent were previously assessed every four years, but routine inspections for excellent schools were discontinued in 2011 so that resources could be focused on the worst-performing institutions.
However, Ofsted worried that this meant some had not been visited for more than a decade. Therefore, in 2020, the government reintroduced routine inspections to ensure parents have more up-to-date information.
In 2020 there were 3,400 outstanding schools in England and Ofsted plans to inspect them all again by summer 2025.
The latest data from Ofsted shows that of the 359 outstanding schools visited between September 2022 and February 2023:
- 40% retained their status
- 50% were downgraded to good
- 10% were told they needed improvement
- 1.4% were classified as insufficient.
Ofsted previously acknowledged that many schools, which are now being reassessed, have seen “significant changes” since they were last inspected.
During an Ofsted visit, which can last up to two days, inspectors observe classes and speak to teachers and students.
The school is usually informed of an inspection the day before.
Schools may request to postpone or cancel a visit, but only in exceptional cases
The inspectors evaluate the schools using criteria based on the Government’s Education Inspection Framework.
They assess a school’s overall performance, the quality of the education provided, student behavior and attitudes, the personal development of staff, and the quality of leadership and management. They also take into account the effectiveness of protective measures.
The final certificate gives the school an overall grade.
The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) says the current inspection system puts “a totally unacceptable level of pressure on individual school leaders”.
A school may be demoted if it fails part of the inspection.
The Ofsted report for Caversham Primary School – where Ruth Perry worked – described a “hospitable and vibrant school” where relationships between teachers and students were “warm and supportive” and bullying was rare.
But it also highlighted a lack of “adequate supervision during breaks”, meaning students were “potentially at risk of harm”.
Professor Sonia Blandford from Plymouth Marjon University has experience with Ofsted inspections.
She says the 24-hour notice period puts significant pressure on leaders, teachers and the wider community, and that “every aspect of the school” is being examined in a very short amount of time.
“The result is pretty harsh,” she added, as a demotion can affect enrollment and school morale, and “have an impact on reputation.”
A school that has been rated good or excellent is inspected again after four years, but also receives recommendations on how it can improve in the meantime.
Any school found to need improvement will be subject to a further inspection within 30 months.
Schools that are judged to be insufficient become sponsored academies and are supported by another outstanding school or charity.
Principals may complain if they believe there is a problem with the rating received.
Several teachers’ unions, including NAHT, the Association of School and College Leaders and the National Education Union, have asked Ofsted to suspend inspections following Ruth Perry’s death.
They are calling for an immediate review of the impact of inspections on the well-being of school and college staff, especially principals, and want the current system of one-tier judgments to be replaced.
The Department of Education said inspections are a “legal requirement” that “obliges schools to be accountable for their educational standards.”
Estyn in Wales and the body that inspects Church of England schools and academies have both moved away from a single class approach.
Labor also recently proposed switching to a report system in England that would replace current grades with more detailed information on academic achievement.
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