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

I’m mid inspection at work and the inspector I’ve had for my meetings has been lovely

I have to say that in my experience the school staff who have a problem with Ofsted are often those who struggle to meet its standards.

I am not saying that it’s the same in your case. Just giving my personal experience.

There are many amazing teachers, believe me I have worked with many, but there are some awful teachers too and they need holding to account.

I’m not a teacher but a governor. Our school was inspected last year and one inspector made the other one cry. It was remarkable. They disagreed on the interpretation of individual words in the new framework, and he overruled her, so we were downgraded from Outstanding to Good. It was a very brutal experience for our poor staff, and a huge shock as the LA had run a mock inspection with us and said we were still Outstanding, as did a former Ofsted inspector who is now a governor. The disputed words were ridiculously hard to quantify and the effect on staff morale profound.

No they don't. Fatuous generalisation.

They inspected the last LA school in Sheffield in 2023 and deliberately downgraded it to Inadequate so that the school had to be academised then control of the school was handed over to a failing MAT that had a trustee that worked for the DfE.

It took a large group of parents protesting and bringing light to the scandal that meant the school was regraded as Good and the academisation order overturned.

Of course the government were very keen to get rid of the last LA school in the area, and Ofsted were willing to do their bidding.

Teaching and learning, safeguarding, management and leadership.

Totally agree with the OP. My school has been graded as outstanding for the last few inspections, but the experience is absolutely brutal, they destroy good teachers and take absolutely no account of the mental health of anyone they impact.

Agree that inspections which don’t just judge but bring real support to the areas found wanting would be a step forward.Anyone can criticise but offering expertise to improve things would make it more bearable and of more use.

This never happened in other jobs, has it? Of course it has and does happen in other industries.. anyone can be mentally unfit or finding it difficult to cope.

Ofsted did react and overreact unfortunately by introducing a score card and removing one word ratings which is only going to disadvantage the kids and the parents.

Ofsted need improving in that it needs to be unannounced visits and more of them. Not a 3 or 4 yearly inspection that the school prepares for that results in a brief summary of generalisations.

And a proper, and highly detailed analysis of the school data and interpretation of the school environment on the report like ofsted used to do years ago.

Now it's just a snapshot of what was staged for the day.

It is generally accepted that a small school inspection (ie less than 100 pupils) is much tougher than in a large school. Small schools get lower grades on average. I was observed in every single lesson I taught on day 1, including simply when reading a book to children at the end of the day - even this was a scheduled observation. I was observed as children lined up at the end of break. It was relentless. In between, I was also interviewed about one of the four subjects I lead. I certainly did have a problem with Ofsted, and not for lack of being a decent teacher (our result was fine). No class teacher should be scrutinised to that level when in a large secondary they may not be observed at all.

anyone can be mentally unfit or finding it difficult to cope.

Ruth Perry wasn't mentally unfit, the coroner's report found that the Ofsted inspection contributed towards her suicide and that urgent changes needed to be made to prevent future deaths. There were basic flaws in the system which, if they hadn't been there, could have saved her life.

It's not acceptable to simply say 'that has happened in other jobs'. That doesn't make it ok, or just one of those things that happens.

Ofsted reacted by including a line about her death in the report next to a comment about breakfast clubs. That's also not ok. Ofsted then didn't meet with the family for a year. Again not ok. Ofsted released some incredibly tone deaf statements that showed they had learned nothing and had to be rebuked by the coroner. Again, awful.

Your analysis of the situation is just bollocks.

Well, in my experience this is bollocks.

Of course schools need to be held to account but most staff don't have an issue with Ofsted because they are shit. They have an issue because it's about judgements made on limited evidence, often around a previously formed agenda, instead of being a system that allows for genuine and supportive conversation about a school's strengths and areas for development. Too often, schools are merely political footballs and the hard work that many teachers are doing, often in very difficult circumstances, is reduced to almost meaningless judgement calls.

And the way that Ofsted and Amanda S reacted to Perry's death and continued to double down was, frankly, grotesque.

Why do teachers always think they are being singled out? Every job, bar none, as some kind of quality assurance in place. Teachers are not unique, their job is not unique.

Not a single teacher on here is suggesting that.

I don't see any other profession who's industry inspections are constantly being discussed. Most people just get on with their jobs, and if they don't like it, quietly leave and find another line of work. Not teachers.

1: Teaching isn't an industry
2: It's whose, rather than who's
3: Feel free to make gross generalisations, but don't be surprised if people call you out on it.

Teaching/education is absolutely an industry. They take in raw material and produce a finished product.

This may be an unpopular opinion but I don't understand all the hand wringing about ofsted. Every job I've ever been in there have been auditors in, which is the same thing. Yes, it's horrid and stressful but they're just doing their job.

Such bollocks.

My Headteacher isn’t the most approachable person. They definitely fit the role of principle rather than Head TEACHER. In fact, they only taught for 5 years and then became a head. They are also an Ofsted inspector. I often wonder what they are like in inspections.

My school had an inspection a few weeks ago and it was absolutely awful. My HT will be raising a complaint even though we got a Good rating. The lead inspector was dismissive, rude and downright nasty. My HT is a tough cookie herself but she was almost rocking in a corner. The second inspector was lovely and on one occasion seemed almost embarrassed by the lead- especially when she told him off in front of our staff.

There was no need to treat us the way she did. It was my 4th Ofsted and my last thank God.

No-one has suggested that. And do stop generalising.

They sort of are leaving. Retention is a real issue.

When a car is produced, the bits don't go home every evening to live another life.

HTH.

Honestly, I've worked in a range of industries and there truly is nothing like Ofsted inspectors and their inspections. They don't serve to help the children or their learning in any way, which is the fundamental problem with them.