To think most Ofsted inspectors seem devoid of human emotions

[Amammai]

Yes I know really it’s just their job.
Yes schools do need to be held to account.
Yes someone has to do the job.

But honestly, are there any Ofsted inspectors on here who can share what actually drives them to do the job? Does being so harsh and often abrupt to people not keep them up at night?

I work in a school. Despite all the promises of taking into account staff mental health etc. I am yet to have been through an inspection which actually truly did this.

if you make a complaint, Ofsted investigates Ofsted. There is now external body for investigation.

So,

YABU - Ofsted inspectors are just doing their job and school staff need to crack on

YANBU - Ofsted inspectors are a certain type of person who thrive on belittling people

It really can depend on the team you get landed with.
I've been through several inspections. Some teams supportive, some downright officious.

Our last team were brilliant (last year) and although it was a stressful time, it was a positive experience and they were genuinely nice people.

The ofsted inspectors I have met have given reports that were entirely accurate.

Most of them also worked in education, usually as either headteachers or senior retired head teachers.

It is very stressful as a teacher (and I remember the stress) but that's usually because the senior leadership team are trying to present the school in a very positive light and it's very hard to live up to that when you don't know what they've told the inspector.

Have you been inspected recently?.

I work with lots of schools on their inspections (LA role) and in the last 2 years, inspectors have bent over backwards to be kind and supportive.

One feedback was so lovely it made staff cry in a good way. One inspector made a point of seeing a young teacher whose lesson had been disrupted by a student to tell her personally that she'd handled the situation well.

Yes , we’ve been inspected within the last fortnight.

Before that, around 18 months before.

Both times the inspection team had very little regard for our staff and certainly didn’t show any signs of ‘bending over backwards.’

It does seem to vary vastly from school to school/inspection to inspection.

As a childminder who has recently had a horrifying inspection lasting 7 hours of hell if you've been through anything like i have I'm sorry. I will never get over the way I was treated and downgraded for unjustified reasons. I'm tempted to fight it but don't have the energy and being close to retirement i won't go through another inspection. Some inspectors are truly horrible and until it happened to me I didn't realise how bad things could get.

Why just schools? Many institutions are inspected by Ofsted. Teachers and schools always think they have it the worst though. It's like covid all over again.

Sorry to hear this. Do you have support?

Inspectors children don’t even really like them much.

Childminders get inspected?

For what?

Genuinely never knew this

Yes, same sort of criteria as nursery/EYFS providers. Must be very intense in such a small setting.

I know one ofsted inspector. He was a teacher at our school for many years then took a managerial senior position in the academy as well as becoming an OFSTED inspector.

It was quite handy as he knew exactly what ofsted looked for so would strive for us to jump through these hoops.

As a teacher his students rated his lessons as somewhat dull. He wasn't the most inspiring of people. A nice enough man, definitely cared about what people thought about the school, but definitely an element of short man syndrome too, and rather pedantic.

But what it really highlighted was how outdated the inspections are. Two days of waltzing into some lessons, looking at some books, speaking to a few kids... that's not helpful.

What's really needed is independent teams working with schools on a regular basis, helping senior leadership with their strategies to manage difficult children, supporting schools where pupils should be making more progress. It should be a continuous help and feedback loop.

We had an OFSTED recently and the man who came to watch my lesson was SO rude! He took kids out without asking if that was ok, talked over me which made it hard for my bottom set to focus and ruined my revision lesson. That would have been the ONLY time those kids would have revised so I had to repeat the entire lesson and reschedule the test as it would have been so unfair.

As a teacher and a parent, I wouldn't pay much attention to an OFSTED report whatsoever and would only choose a school by visiting it.

The problem with the recent bending over backwards by ofstead to support schools is that when parents highlight safeguarding errors by the school they are dismissed. There have been numerous issues of gdpr leaks and inappropriate photos shared on my childs learning journal to the point that in terms of my child's journey through the school with a good rating is very poor. I would not recommend it in the slightest and think both the Headteacher and the ofstead system are less use than a chocolate teapot!

Yep, childminders have to prove to Ofsted that they are providing their mindees with an appropriate curriculum, safeguarding etc, the same as nurseries do.

An Ofsted inspector was really rude about my then baby son when she was inspecting my older children's school. I've never forgotten that. I've also never forgotten how one of the teachers gave her a telling off afterwards.

I don’t think schools have it worse at. I just really dislike Ofsted and the way they conduct themselves.

There must be a better way than what they currently offer (or what they are proposing to offer next!)

Fuck me mental health yet again...weight till one of your colleagues robs the bank you work in and the inspection happens...or your job is under review for the 8th time in 15 years...get over yourself

My School had an inspection a few weeks ago and I can honestly say it was a very positive experience. Yes there were nerves both before and throughout but at every opportunity both inspectors were making sure that all staff were okay. Our ECT said it wasn’t what she had been expecting and was glad that they both took the time to offer her advice and feedback.
We had an ex head and a current head and they were personable and at some points very funny!
There reflections on the school were accurate and our areas for improvement fair and what we were expecting.
Not all inspectors are the same just as any workers you get in any job, some good some not so good.

Yes, I worked in banking and we were under constant scrutiny, and then the big ones when everyone was suspect if there'd been a fraud. Ofsted every few years is a walk in the park in comparison and I've found all the inspectors perfecrly pleasant

Thanks

Yabu

I have worked in education for decades and I’ve only ever been treated kindly and professionally by them.

The inspectors I have met seem to be driven by a genuine desire to support schools and ensure children receive the best education they can

I’ve worked in education for years and never had a problem with being inspected. Never had rude inspectors. Schools need to be held to account. I’m happy to have professional conversations about my work and its impact, happy to take feedback etc
Contracted Ofsted inspectors tend to get a bit big for their boots but HMI generally don’t. It’s part and parcel of being in school leadership. Have faith that you make the right choices for the kids who come to your school, give a clear rationale for your decisions, monitor the impact it’s having and don’t get hung up on Ofsted judgements.

Why were there only 18 months between inspections?

Yeah but Ofsted don’t get hung up on one kids learning journal. It may not have been ideal but unless it’s having a significant impact on the quality of education or behaviour it won’t affect an outcome.

I'm surprised that there is anyone left willing to work for Ofsted inspecting schools after the suicide of Ruth Perry and the appalling response by Ofsted in the aftermath. Totally inhumane.

Many inspectors (most?) are ex-teachers, I worked with one once he was the loveliest man and great colleague. Personally I think many teachers are belittling and dismissive so of course if they become inspectors it's chickens come home to roost. Most teachers are fantastic but some treat children, parents and colleagues terribly often because no-one dares speak to them the same way in return, I think this is a particular objection to inspections. There doesn't seem to be any way they can operate that teachers would be happy with. Of course sometimes they have to be harsh, some schools and settings are terrible. Most of the time they're really positive and say so many great things. My work (not a school) had an Ofsted inspection, a bit of pressure but not that much