A school leader recently approached me with a question that many headteachers in the UK may relate to: "Does Ofsted fail to grasp the immense pressures that schools face?" This query was particularly relevant given the academic year that passed where schools did not receive sufficient consideration for the pandemic’s effects. To add insult to injury, Ofsted continued inspecting schools during the final week of term despite dire forecasts of a scorching heatwave.
The question from the school leader was a cry for help that many others would share. Being an ex-HMI of 16 years, I countered arguing that his majesty’s inspectors (HMIs) indeed possess school experience and comprehend the pressure it entails. Alas, it is Amanda Spielman, the Chief Inspector, and her advisors who are out of touch because they have no teaching experience, coupled with the presence of a target-driven culture.
Ofsted has dominion over state schools where most young individuals receive their education. Reports indicate that approximately 85% of schools are rated as good or above. In such cases, Ofsted inspections may seem unnecessary. However, if schools do not undergo inspection, it becomes impossible to determine whether a school is actually good or not.
A few years ago, I led an inspection of a high school that had an earlier rating of requiring improvement. The results of the school had improved, and pupils appeared to be receiving a decent educational experience. Unfortunately, on the second day of our two-day inspection, we discovered evidence that suggested otherwise. We discovered that a significant number of Year 11 pupils were being struck off the school’s list, with nowhere else to go. This way, the GCSE results obtained by the school appeared better while its climate for learning seemed to have improved. Sadly, the checks performed to ensure the pupils taken off the register were in a safe place or were even alive themselves were entirely unsatisfactory. Consequently, the school’s expected "good" rating was downgraded to "inadequate".
Do inspections comprise a vital safety-net for parents, particularly children? Absolutely. Although some hold the belief that Ofsted inspections should reflect exam scores, I think that this is not the case. Although I have my fair share of criticisms about Ofsted’s regulation of what is being taught, I understand the chief inspector’s standpoint that we need two different measures of school accountability. These two measures are the exam results and the Ofsted inspection. Replicating the second measure precisely like the exam results would render it pointless.
The balance between exam results and how they are attained has considerably shifted. A misunderstanding of this context concerning the expected quality of education judgment results in accusations levelled at Ofsted for downgrading schools using "hit squads". While quality of education is vital to assess a school’s effectiveness, Ofsted also enforces critical assessments in other areas, particularly pupil safeguarding, given the increasingly high expectations in recent times.
Typically, schools are not deficient in safeguarding for minor technicalities. In the past, I visited schools where systems were in disarray, and I could not be sure whether all staff had undergone criminal record checks or whether internal systems were stringent enough to observe concerns about individual pupils.
Does Ofsted strive to ensure that inspectors always act professionally? Sadly not. Does Ofsted’s focus on a limited range of subjects and a shallow interpretation of cognitive science prove helpful?. No, it doesn’t. Nonetheless, the bottom line is that inspection is a fundamental guardian of parents, children particularly. That is why even with my criticism, I still believe in inspection.
In summary, Adrian Lyons, an OFSTED HMI from 2005 – 2021, is now a consultant supporting schools, academy trusts, and training providers for teachers.
