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Original poster

Ofsted needs to be abolished (Trigger warning)

387 replies

MrsMurphyIWish · 17/03/2023 09:29

Watched this heartbreaking story today:

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001k4r9

A headteacher took her own life as her school was rated inadequate. The pressures Ofsted creates are immense. Last week Ofsted were on strike Wednesday so decided to break protocol and rang schools Friday to conduct inspections on Monday - some schools were off for snow but that wasn’t a good enough reasons and even if the messages were picked up, that meant school staff would have worries over the weekend - some even going into school. Then there were schools who complained as these schools were given “extra notice”. Ofsted has created such a toxic work environment.

How has it come to this? A teacher who dedicated their life to education feels that a one word judgement meant life wasn’t worth living?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Nimbostratus100 · 29/03/2023 18:58

LolaSmiles · 29/03/2023 18:38

If everything is in place, surely the SLT should be able to find it? It is a failure if they cannot!!
What people are saying is that schools are being nitpicked for not having the information in the inspector's preferred format.

This is what the tiresome posts seem to miss.

Nobody is saying it's fine to have a rubbish curriculum or missing paperwork.

It is a problem if:

  • Inspector A goes to one school and pulls the school up for having paperwork X in format B
  • Inspector B goes to a different school on the same day and pulls the school up for having paperwork X in format A.

It is a problem if:

  • Inspector A looks at a curriculum document, speaks to the relevant staff and can see it's a well planned and well-sequenced curriculum.
  • Inspector B could visit the same school and tell the school the curriculum wasn't up to much because they hadn't included their favourite topics (which aren't specified in the inspection framework).

It should be obvious why can't a 'guess what the random stranger prefers on the day' approach to inspection is problematic and causes issues.

or the same curriculum is printed out landscape or portrait.......

TizerorFizz · 29/03/2023 19:05

The curriculum is not confidential safeguarding info. It’s as simple as that.

HubertTheGoat · 29/03/2023 19:08

TizerorFizz · 29/03/2023 19:05

The curriculum is not confidential safeguarding info. It’s as simple as that.

I don't even understand what this means, so clearly it's not that simple. Can you elaborate?

cantkeepawayforever · 29/03/2023 19:35

Inspection team A wants risk assessment (an obvious part of safeguarding) per building. Institution has it per activity. Inspection team fails institution.

Next inspection team (not that long later, following up after failure) gets risk assessment per building. Looks puzzled, requests it per activity. Luckily previous version also available. Inspection team raises institution two grades. It’s not ‘simple’.

cantkeepawayforever · 29/03/2023 19:39

If Ofsted wants all information related to safeguarding in a standard format, stored in a standard way in a specified software programme or hard copy filing form, it should specify that nationally and the teams should inspect in a well -standardised and moderated way against that specification.

Failing or passing arbitrarily based on what a particular inspector ‘likes’ or ‘doesn’t like’ , when this is neither specified nor standardised , is not acceptable.

LolaSmiles · 29/03/2023 21:50

If Ofsted wants all information related to safeguarding in a standard format, stored in a standard way in a specified software programme or hard copy filing form, it should specify that nationally and the teams should inspect in a well -standardised and moderated way against that specification
Agreed.

If Ofsted want anything in a specified format they should provide the format, make it clear in the public documentation, make it clear to schools what is expected and then let us get on with it.

Some of the criticism launched at people criticising the current model of inspections seem focused on being negative about schools, but they'd do well to think about parents. How can parents possibly view judgements by Ofsted with any reliability when Ofsted themselves allow such differences and inconsistencies between inspectors?

Shinyandnew1 · 06/04/2023 18:14

I wonder what a conversation between Amanda Spielman and Gillian Keegan on this topic would look like…!?

Ofsted needs to be abolished (Trigger warning)
Maximo2 · 06/04/2023 20:10

Fucking hell, you know you are doing something seriously wrong if even Michael Wilshaw starts pointing it out!

noblegiraffe · 06/04/2023 20:17

I've seen quite a lot on edutwitter about headteachers who inspect for Ofsted standing down and refusing to inspect.

I wonder what morale is like at Ofsted right now. What with them also going on strike.

Learningisfun · 30/05/2023 17:37

Hello,

I am a little late to this party, and simultaneously still relevant.

For those who share the opinion that OFSTED should be reviewed at the very least, I kindly urge you to add your signature to this petition (link provided below) and share it with your connections in the UK. The deadline for signing this petition is 23rd September 2023.

At present, there are 61,732 signatures supporting the call for a review of OFSTED.

If you have already added your signature, I offer my sincerest appreciation and ask that you help spread the word to others.

Gratefully,
A concerned educator from the UK.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635055

Petition: Urgently review the current Ofsted Framework and associated methodology

In light of recent events, and in meaningful consultation with the sector, review the Ofsted framework and methodology, which we believe are overly burdensome and do little to improve school performance. Government should urgently consider the impact o...

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635055

Learningisfun · 30/05/2023 18:43

Hello,

Sorry that I am a little late to this party - and yet still very relevant.

61,742 people agree that OFSTED should be reviewed at the very least, and I kindly urge you to add your signature to this petition (link provided below) and share it with your connections in the UK. The deadline for signing this petition is September 23rd, 2023.

At present, there are 61,742 signatures supporting the call for a review of OFSTED. We need to get to 100,000 signatures before the deadline.

If you have already added your signature, I offer my sincerest appreciation and ask that you help spread the word to others.

Best regards,
A concerned educator from the UK.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635055

Petition: Urgently review the current Ofsted Framework and associated methodology

In light of recent events, and in meaningful consultation with the sector, review the Ofsted framework and methodology, which we believe are overly burdensome and do little to improve school performance. Government should urgently consider the impact o...

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635055

Learningisfun · 30/05/2023 18:46

Learningisfun · 30/05/2023 18:43

Hello,

Sorry that I am a little late to this party - and yet still very relevant.

61,742 people agree that OFSTED should be reviewed at the very least, and I kindly urge you to add your signature to this petition (link provided below) and share it with your connections in the UK. The deadline for signing this petition is September 23rd, 2023.

At present, there are 61,742 signatures supporting the call for a review of OFSTED. We need to get to 100,000 signatures before the deadline.

If you have already added your signature, I offer my sincerest appreciation and ask that you help spread the word to others.

Best regards,
A concerned educator from the UK.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635055

My bad :(

Sorry for double posting

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