Teachers post on TES about Ofsted and lying - interesting

[appropriatelytrained]

I am on the mailing list for TES for Home Ed resources.

This post popped up yesterday.

I thought it explained alot in terms of what some of us go through in schools.

[tryingtokeepintune]

Speechless! Can't say I am surprised.

[devientenigma]

Hi appropriate, just I thought I would say I am on there too for the same reason lol

[IndigoBell]

Bloody hell!

Antics of one school when Ofsted visited:

when said Deputy listed somewhere around a dozen or so of the worst pupils across those three classes. As I struggled not to show any emotion, he then placed a hand on my shoulder and assured me "... and none of those little !*$! will be in tomorrow, you have my word!" To which I calmly advised him that all of the named pupils had excellent attendance records - their collective mission in life, it seemed, was to disrupt. "Oh, don't worry, I give you my solemn guarantee." Again, I asked how he could be so sure, to which he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket, and drew an inch-or-so thick wad of £20 notes from his pocket, looked at it, then at me, and returned it to his pocket.

Via the grapevine, I learnt later, some of those kids had received up to £100 or so not to attend school on that day. It seemed he had, in total, paid the equivalent of a whole class to truant for the day.

[Becaroooo]

Jesus!

Yet another reason that OFSTED are a joke.

[appropriatelytrained]

I dare say some schools would never get up to such practices, but, the posters on that board, who are teachers, seem to recognise it as alarmingly common.

For me, it explained why teachers, heads in particular, are so keen to support their LA and to deny problems, failures in provision etc and so ready to lie about stupid little things. This is just the way some operate. Deny problems, pretend everything is going swimmingly, and when confronted by evidence to the contrary - lie.

Devientenigma - it has some great stuff on there doesn't it? I am amazed at how many pre-planned lessons and resources are available for teachers. Lesson plans which plan out each hour of the day, differentiating the lesson between groups with specific resources.

Amazing - I can't think of any other job where you will find this.

[bochead]

My son's last school would be closed the same day if Ostead ever did a flash inspection with no warning. One local Primary was eventually closed after all sorts of shenanigans.

Ofstead for me only shows that a school is of a certain standard for all non-troublesome pupils on a day when everyone is well prepared. Oh and that a school is good at politics and paperwork. It shows nothing of what REALLY goes on, day to day.

Lies work if everyone sticks together from the lea down and spins the same yarn, and especially at Primary level - to whistleblow can cost a career. Parents are easily dismissed/discredited/ignored. At my Mums old secondary selected kids were taken on coach trips on inspection days, "curriculum enrichment" I think they call it when they tick the box for it ; )

So long as all professionals stick to the party line, nothing will ever change.

[appropriatelytrained]

I was surprised to note the lack of whistelblowing protection for teachers. I know the NHS have made efforts around this but it appears that there is very little protection for teachers if they refuse to play those games.

I suppose the might of LA, school and governors are then turned on the teacher as they have been turned on the parent. How would a teacher argue or protect themselves against that?

[rebl]

That is shocking but not surprising. I do wish that OFSTED did no warning inspections. I think a lot of what we all knows goes on would be picked up and stopped.

[bochead]

An individual teacher or teaching assistant has NO protection really from the wrath of an LEA/school. It's one of the reasons the profession traditionally has a high early retirement rate, though it's never talked about openly.

[signandsmile]

!

[davidsotherhalf]

i had problems with my ds3s school about 3 yrs ago....i got a phonecall saying don't send ds3 to school next week as ofsted are in school. i was told all sn children had the week off. when i said it was wrong to do this i was told if i sent ds3 to school he would get px as dc with adhd are disruptive and give ofsted cause for concern....the learning support unit was filled with other pupils

[jandymaccomesback]

At our local Junior School Ofsted only received one negative parent survey. So what happened to the others which I know about personally is anybody's guess. Even so they only got satisfactory.

[appropriatelytrained]

That Ofsted questionnaire drives me mad - it is so weighted in favour of schools.

For example, there is no neutral position - just strongly agree/ agree/disagree/strongly disagree. What about a 'I don't know' box. This means people who aren't really happy but don't feel strongly are almost certainly going to tick the 'agree' box, giving results a better gloss.

It also asks ridiculous questions about things like the quality of teaching. How on earth can parents really judge this? They are also likely to tick agree

[WetAugust]

Why are we surprised? I lost all respect for the teaching 'profession' years ago.

The troublesome kids at DS's secondary were sent on a 'work experience week' - which just happened to concide with the week the inspectors would be in school.

Disgusting, cynical behaviour.

[appropriatelytrained]

Wet - I agree with you about losing respect although I have some some very good friends who are teachers so I don't believe all teachers act this way.

I was just surprised that it seems so widespread and accepted. Also, this thread is interesting because it comes from the horse's mouth so to speak.

[BatmanLovesRobin]

The problem with the teaching system is that whistle blowers tend to be blacklisted within their authority. Heads all know each other fairly well due to all the headship meetings and conferences.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Ofsted don't do flash inspections precisely because they would then have to report failing schools, which isn't what they or any current government ever want.

I have an exceptionally talented teaching relative who sat on the Ofsted training course TWICE but was not passed to be an inspector either time. The reason she was given was because she was too challenging.

[Minx179]

I think some teachers do whistle blow, but the repercussions are long term. As Batman says a teachers career can be ruined. Which help to discourage others, who if they are unhappy move school instead.

Just as we think our children's teachers, schools, LEA conspire against us, similar forces work against the teaching profession as well.

I sometimes think it is a shame that teachers and parents don't work closer together to expose the corruption and lies and challenge the powers that be, in order to make a better more equitable education system.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

It's because they are so defensive due to their profession being so devalued and the fact that the government and society seem to blame them for all of society's ills.

Couple that with the only shred of confidence they have available to them which is the ridiculous reliance on the supposed credibility of 'professional opinion' over evidence-based-practice and they cling on to this as their only form of self-worth.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

My Dad was a teacher trainer and said frequently that a teacher can be sacked for many things, but never incompetence.

There is no accountability.