Ofsted needs to be abolished - further details

[MrsMurphyIWish]

Have started a new thread as think it’s important this doesn’t just get lost on my previous thread

The Ofsted report for the school where the head teacher died has been published …

They are toxic and need reform immediately.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4765105-ofsted-needs-to-be-abolished-trigger-warning?page=1

Mine was 1997 I think. We had loads of notice, seven inspectors, including subject inspectors, a full week where they could come into your lessons, a 7 point rating scale for lessons that you would queue up to get. It was awful as a classroom teacher. No idea what it was like as a school leader. The worst for me as a leader was the last framework. I prefer this one, but the stress of it is undeniably crushing.

I've read that and it in no way says that criticism shouldn't exist, nor that schools shouldn't be inspected. Neither does it say that inspections should be paused.

It says this report should be removed (it has been) and no reports should be posted until a review process is in place. Anyone with an ounce of empathy can see that it is a horrible failing on the part of Ofsted that this report was posted with the content that it had. Something has gone very wrong there, and checks need to be put in place.

Why should concerns about safeguarding not extend to headteachers and school leaders?

It's a huge tragedy.

I can full imagine it was the stress of Ofsted and it's knock on effects. Her family must be devastated.

The way schools are inspected needs to change. Get rid of the rankings and make sure that schools have regular checks on both safeguarding and the teaching and learning with actions to move forward if necessary. This toxic mentality has infected slt which then filters down to staff and children. It's not based on any educational research just gimmicks and quick fixes to make names and cash for various people.

There was a study into the disparity of inspections recently which was interesting to read.
schoolsweek.co.uk/female-ofsted-inspectors-hand-out-harsher-grades-study-suggests/

My thoughts are with her family and the school community 💐

Why should concerns about safeguarding not extend to headteachers and school leaders?

Very clearly it should; I know this is a different thing, but the fact that staff are regularly physically abused is another huge red light about which little is done, and which certainly comes under safeguarding

It just seems weird to me that OFSTED is the be all and end all.

Ultimately we all want what's best for the kids, parents and teachers. Why isn't Ofsted working WITH the schools in question, rather than traumatising and overloading the teachers.

Scared, stressed, fearful people don't perform well in their jobs. Supported, well managed people do. OFSTED should be more carrot and less stick, and more of a partnership to find the right vibe for the school, it's intake and the staff.

My kids are currently thriving in a Needs Improvement school. I moved the eldest from a Good school to go there. The good school focused on results and not happiness, the needs improvement school focuses on pastoral care and does lots of wellness, enrichment. My kid is

The labels are too broad and poorly descriptive. I'd rather see "this is a nurturing school", "this is an academically focused school", "this school has an enrichment focus"... Whatever it is, so that people can pick the school they need and that suits their family.

Right now every school in my local authority is "Good", but it's bit of a case that when everyone is special, nobody is!

The labels are too broad and poorly descriptive. I'd rather see "this is a nurturing school", "this is an academically focused school", "this school has an enrichment focus"... Whatever it is, so that people can pick the school they need and that suits their family

But the reports do include descriptions like this, Idtotallybang
Admittedly it means reading further than a one word headline, but with the reports being much shorter these days that's surely not too much to expect?

Agreed.

As a teacher you would think I would want my children to go to an “outstanding” school. I have a child in primary and one in Yr 7. Neither go to an outstanding school and I purposely didn’t read Ofsted reports. I have happy and healthy children and that is what is important to me.

The labels are too broad and poorly descriptive. I'd rather see "this is a nurturing school", "this is an academically focused school", "this school has an enrichment focus"...Whatever it is, so that people can pick the school they need and that suits their family.

I agree. Labour have the right idea proposing report cards for Ofsted inspections instead of a one-word grading. Siams (church schools) have also said that they will be removing one word gradings from their inspections as well.

Why not just get rid of the one word "headline" and people can read the report for information.

Agree @Forever42.

Posted this on my other thread:

I currently work in an outstanding school (although haven’t had an inspection for 13 years). It’s a toxic environment and I only cope with it as I’m part time.

My children attend a “good” and a “RI” school. They are so happy, progressing well and they love their schools. I’m only hope their staff aren’t under the pressure I feel as I know they’re turning my children into wholesome members of society.

As a teacher I know to look beyond the one word judgement - it’s meaningless but non education parents are basing judgements on these reports. A 1 1/2 snapshot day of school life. And school life is HOLISTIC.

The trouble with working at, or having kids at an RI school is that it's harder to recruit and retain staff as Ofsted is likely to come in more often, which just adds to the pressure. All the more reason to get rid of the labels.

Why not just get rid of the one word "headline" and people can read the report for information

Works for me, Forever42; in fact I wouldn't have a problem with that at all

Thus is sad that a woman took her own life. But, How is this Ofsted's fault? As a Head she would have regular MH training. We all hope that people realise that most things are solvable and nothing is that bad that you need to consider suicide - hopefully.

Also I read that they wrote flossing was due to over-sexualised. What a crock of shit. It was a short term dance move ds2 did.

How naive. Regular MH training? I would be pissing myself laughing if it wasn’t a joke. A number to a suicide helpline on a weekly email isn’t mental health support (what I have).

Ffs, have you read the thread and the story ?

Mental health training in schools is usually about helping the kids when they can't get an appointment with an actually trained counsellor due to insane waiting lists.

Staff wellbeing is usually cakes in the staff room or compulsory yoga.

Staff who have to deal with awful stuff like kids disclosing abuse generally do not have any follow-up care to check that they're ok, or the sort of supervision a counsellor might have.

Regular mental health training??

Ok then. Ignore what I said about her teacher Supposed MH training. We would hope that any person realises that no matter how bad things are, most are resolvable. We don't want people considering suicide. It's very sad that she did. Other Heads don't, when they too have had similar ofsted ratings. There were clearly other issues here. It can't ALL be laid at ofsted's door.

There were clearly other issues here. It can't ALL be laid at ofsted's door.

maybe read what her sister said
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11873175/Sister-headteacher-killed-blasts-watchdog-inspection.html

I have clopper. I disagree.

Many Head's get bad ofsteds reports, people get sacked, made redundant, other really bad job issues. It's common. Hopefully most are resolvable.

Everyone, in and out of school, tries to teach our children (in fact all people) to reach out, talk, if things are very bad. To reduce suicides.

Yearly safeguarding inspections by local teams/partner schools, separate to other inspection. Immediate support to rectify issues.

Same inspection routine (called day before, roughly 4 yearly, focused subject inspection where required, 2 days, more than one inspector)
Inspectors are from local school's SLT
No judgement 'word' - second day end of day feedback to all staff
List of things the school does well
List of development areas
Local support team for development areas - LA or partner schools

No one word judgements for schools to boast about on fence banners

In the meantime, school staff should refuse to act as inspectors until things change.

I feel like this thread conflates a lot of issues?

-That statement on the ofsted website (and realistically, the NAHT are not going to post a falsified statement are they) was absolutely callous and disrespectful. (Arguably, this is indicative of the wider respect shown to school staff by ofsted).

-Whether an ofsted judgement led to suicide or not? (Obviously suicide is complex, but I do think if she had not got that judgement, she would not have committed suicide at that time. I've seen on twitter someone suggesting MH support available for leadership/teachers in schools who are facing a significant downgrade, which I don't think would be a bad idea).

-Whether ofsted or is fit for purpose or not? (I think it isn't but I don't think this one specific incident is necessarily a good example of that, actually).

But that statement is absolutely abhorrent, and surely more than one person must have okay'd it for it to get as far as being published? So it does make me question the fitness of these people to judge anyone else.

At the very, very minimum, an apology is needed.

However - the report has been published by the school before appearing on the Ofsted website. That's extremely unusual and makes me wonder if the school have published the version of the report that they get to comment on, which could change before being published.

@Richhandcream I read the report on the OFSTED website yesterday. It's since been deleted. Presumably because they realised how incredibly insensitive that bit about her death was.

There's no reason for the school to now remove their link. People absolutely should see how insensitive OFSTED is.

But Oblomov, many head teachers, school leaders and teachers report feeling suicidal in the run-up to, during and post-inspection. The pressure is immense, the process brutal. To say that other heads "don't" doesn't mean they are 'fine'. Many categorically are not.
I'm 'just' a class teacher at the moment, but lead two curriculum areas. 'Good' school. Not due Ofsted for 18-24 months. This year I have had to attend 12h twilight 'deep dive' training for each of my lead subjects in case Ofsted decide to interrogate me in my role as subject leader in 2 years time. I've already been booked on the same training for next year. Training is free (and teachers attend unpaid, of course) and promoted by our local authority. Everyone everywhere is terrified so everyone is doing it. 24 hours of 'contact time' in being coached in how to approach interrogation questions, and understand what the inspector is really looking for, in addition to the 'home work' required to prepare for each session, approximately 35 hours in total. A full working week for many; expected free overtime for teachers (on too of regular planning and marking) because the thought of not having done everything possible to prepare doesn't bear thinking about.

I can say, hand on heart, that perhaps 2% of this training will benefit my pupils, as it is not about being a more effective educator of children or leader of non-specialist colleagues, but all about trying not to get wrong-footed by the inspection framework.

@Oblomov23 I agree. Schools must be inspected, and many have improved as a result. That's great for kids, and it's important for kids. A high quality education matters, and kids shouldn't be written off in shittily run schools.

That said, I don't know the Ofsted process these days, and it does need to be fit for purpose, including doable for staff. It should be challenging. Although not ridiculously so, or unnecessarily bureaucratic, and it should measure the right things. It's difficult for outsiders to judge, because teachers have always complained about it, in its various iterations.

Also I don't think education (which Ofsted is judging) should be endlessly tinkered with because of political ideology (history). Making it more relevant to the modern world, I do think is worthwhile (modern computer teaching).

Schools should-and don't-have the proper money to appoint staff and have half a chance to succeed.