First headteacher refuses to be Ofsteded in boycott

[noblegiraffe]

There has been talk on twitter over the weekend of a boycott of Ofsted in protest at its ridiculous system of stressful high-stakes inspections and public shaming, following the suicide of a headteacher in January after her outstanding primary was downgraded to inadequate.

This morning the first brave headteacher has put her head above the parapet. Ofsted called to notify of an inspection tomorrow and the head said no.

twitter.com/florascooper/status/1637760884243066881?s=46&t=vKGM6xpoeW3wdlaVVVagQA

She is calling for people to come to the school tomorrow morning to support the boycott (details on twitter).

I hope this becomes the catalyst for a serious review and reform of the inspection system.

what a shambles that it takes a dedicated head teacher to take her life for everyone to address the inadequacies of Ofsted , of cause we need accountability of school practices- unfortunately unless a major reform is done we can wave good by to highly skilled educators from early years right through to higher education.Challenges of Ofsted in judicial review by the old cooperative day nursery in 2018 found the system not to be fit for purpose by Judge Coulson and a review of inspections was made - it’s the only educational setting to win a case of this type worth a look. But can we believe that this the only education establishment that’s been treated so unfairly, the answer is NO. It took the Old Cooperative day nursery 3 years to fight at no monetary gain ,just justice in law ,and the purse of tax payers money to pay for OFSTEds legal team

That's interesting and very relevant, @HappyThingFalls

You’d think so, wouldn’t you? Nah.

We just need to repost this continually

The whole school system needs reform. Kids don't come as 1 size fits all, but school does, then punishes those who don't fit! But ofstead is a nightmare, not just for schools, but for nursery's too.

Agree, sometimes a HT can be in post for too long. Nothing worse than outstaying your time - it only stands to breed a 'less than healthy' culture.

However, reading the actual report it doesn't mention that at all in the report.

The verbal feed received when an inspection finishes lasts a fair length of time with a lot of detail given. The newer reports are very short, so much detail is lost.

They are, yes.

It doesn't mean they are making things up.
This detail is very specific so they will have definitely got it from somewhere, not made up. Mostly likely the HT when talking about, as she will have received a much more detailed feedback session following the inspection. Even after a 'good' inspection the feedback can be tough, depending on the inspection team. After an inadequate finding I'd imagine it's horrific.

@TortolaParadise he hadn't been in post long, but was latest in a long line of wet blankets who had been inexplicably promoted beyond their abilities!
My DC got away with it, but I dread to think how many pupils were failed :(

I think ofsted should be zero notice, turn up and see it how the kids see it every day. I’ve been at school when ofsted came and teachers pulled out all the stops and taught magically. It was not like that at all the rest of the time. What are the ramifications of doing a bad job? Humiliation and a sacking, same as doing a bad job anywhere. Many occupations have assessments/audits/mystery shopping etc.

If ofsted is looking at the wrong things then press for reform of their focus but schools more than many other places need assessment and being held to account.

Humiliation and a sacking, same as doing a bad job anywhere.

No, not the same as doing a bad job anywhere. Are you seriously comparing what happened here to a 'mystery shopper'?

However, I completely believe that the flossing and 2 child scrap were included as evidence in the grade given for poor safeguarding by Ofsted. Ime, the use of such small items as evidence for an ‘already decided’ grading is very common, especially if they are scrabbling to justify that grading in the face of challenge during or after the inspection. It is because this information rings so true that so many with experience of Ofsted are saying ‘yes, that is exactly how it works

oh I am absolutely convinced that inspectors arrive knowing exactly what they are going to pick up on and criticise. They absolutely have an agenda and do not appear to have an open mind at all.

I’m also convinced that the inspection system attracts a certain “type.”

and while we’re at it, I really don’t think it’s right that current headteachers are allowed to be Ofsted inspectors, abandon their duty to their own schools for a few days, while going into someone else’s and criticising them. They also have an unfair advantage in that they know, or SHOULD know, the latest trend to be popping up in inspection reports, and how best to get a decent grade when it comes to their own school being inspected.

I am absolutely convinced that inspectors arrive knowing exactly what they are going to pick up on and criticise. They absolutely have an agenda and do not appear to have an open mind at all.

This. We also knew what the inspector was going to pick up on in a recent inspection as they were a head in a nearby area who had written extensively on the particular area they were interested in. Every meeting was tailored to look specifically at the issue and they desperately tried to pick holes in that area when there wasn't anything to dig into. It was eye opening.

I’ve been at school when ofsted came and teachers pulled out all the stops and taught magically. It was not like that at all the rest of the time. What are the ramifications of doing a bad job? Humiliation and a sacking, same as doing a bad job anywhere. Many occupations have assessments/audits/mystery shopping etc.

in what capacity were you at school when this happened? I doubt it was as a teacher. It is not possible to teach “magically” every minute of every lesson with every class, every day of every term. Our education system just doesn’t have the set up or funding or staffing for this.

We have them in at the moment. We have all said it feels like they have an agenda already and their questioning reflects that. They are not interested in the kids at all - just the paperwork.
The main one today came across as rude and accusatory. It was like a grilling after having done something wrong with no opportunity given to show what we do.

I am absolutely convinced that inspectors arrive knowing exactly what they are going to pick up on and criticise

If that's really the case then god help Flora Cooper after the choices she's made ...

A friend was Ofsteded recently, it was the last LA school in the area. Guess what grade they got, based purely on that information.

This has occurred to me, I must say.

It's certainly going to be an eagerly awaited and publicised report :)

Pick me pick me.
Was it a grade which requires immediate academy conversion?

The news that Caversham was a LA school makes it very much more explicable why they were graded Inadequate.

Inspectors know that they need to help enact Government policy to make sure all schools convert to Academy status.

The quickest way of doing this is to give them a grade that means forced academisation (Inadequate or second successive RI), and they will have been looking very hard for reasons to give this grade.

I note, btw, that the version of the report belatedly published on the Ofsted site has had the reference to the head’s death removed.

I didn’t use OFSTED alone. I actually looked at the level the children were at when they finished their final year at that particular school. I wanted to make sure the school was above average at reading/writing and maths.
I actually came across a school with outstanding OFSTED report but the students were below the national average at reading/writing/maths which is crazy.

I believe all parents should look at the scores before looking at the OFSTED report. It’s a lot trickier as not all schools will publish their scores on the gov website. Just look on the schools website and the scores will be there.

Ok I understand. I too have come across may over promoted wet blankets. 🙄

My daughter goes to a school that is deemed inadequate by Ofsted, she bloody loves the school and so do i.à

Funnily enough, it was!

Branwen Jeffreys needs to look into how many schools that have been downgraded in the past couple of years are LA schools compared to ones already in a trust.