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Original poster

How do I find out about becoming an OFSTED inspector?

33 replies

OhTheGlamour · 29/03/2012 14:51

There is only one vacancy on their website which seems a bit unlikely.
I am tentatively thinking about this career move - with regard to Early Years. I can't see anything about necessary qualifications/experience, or about pay.

Does anyone out there work for OFSTED please?

OP posts:
kritur · 29/03/2012 15:10

I've only ever known people to be seconded to Ofsted from slt so apart from that I'm not sure. I know it involves very long hours and time away from home but the pay is good.

HangingGarden · 29/03/2012 15:16

I believe this organisation trains inspectors:
www.tribalgroup.com/education/Inspections/Pages/Inspectortraining.aspx
Assuming you have teaching experience and knowledge of education they are possibly a good source of info as to your next step and the future possibilities.

SecretSquirrels · 29/03/2012 16:48

I think you have to have substantial teaching experience preferably with leadership as well.

Original poster
OhTheGlamour · 29/03/2012 22:18

does it really involve very long hours? I wonder if you can do it part time. I thought lots of the inspectors work from home.

What is the pay does anyone know?

OP posts:
clopper · 29/03/2012 22:21

You are paid in the lifeblood of teachers! Why would you like to do this job?

Original poster
OhTheGlamour · 29/03/2012 22:25

Because I am very experienced and I'm an owner/manager of a setting and want a challenge.

But maybe it's not such a good idea. I don't know. I don't want to be the nasty person with the clipboard.

OP posts:
Hassled · 29/03/2012 22:27

Most are Ex headteachers, or at least SLT.
Don't know about Early Years, though. Worth a phone call, I'd have thought. Not a family friendly job, I wouldn't have thought - you don't Ofsted within your own area in case you know anyone involved, so a lot of travel and living out of suitcases.

Hassled · 29/03/2012 22:29

Too many "have thoughts" there. Don't think there'd be much working from home - yes, there's a lot of sifting through data before the site visit, but it's as part of a team.

clopper · 29/03/2012 22:29

It always seems such a negative sort of job though, looking for failure/ people to slip us. The new framework is going to make it harder to find a positive I think. Staff won't like you and you will just cause fear and tension wherever you go, even if you have a cheerful manner.

clopper · 29/03/2012 22:30

Do you think you can really judge whether a person is a good teacher by watching them for 20 minutes?

clopper · 29/03/2012 22:32

slip up not slip us. See even talking about it is making me tense and make mistakes!

IHeartKingThistle · 29/03/2012 22:34

Not wishing to put you off but a friend of mine trained to do it, did it for a year and absolutely hated it. Her reasons were having to travel so far (you're not allowed to inspect near where you live), no colleagues to speak of (she said the other inspectors were a bit, um, dry) and causing fear and stress wherever you go.

It's a shame because I bet she was a lovely inspector. I'll be facing OFSTED for the third time soon and they still put the fear of God into me.

Original poster
OhTheGlamour · 29/03/2012 22:34

The new framework is simpler though - can't see how that will make it harder to find a positive, clopper. I know what you mean though - I don't want to be hated and even if I try to be nice it would seem fake.

OP posts:
exoticfruits · 29/03/2012 22:38

Why not try and use your experience advising and helping instead-if a job comes up-much more rewarding I should think.

clopper · 29/03/2012 22:45

Yes exotic I agree, much more fulfilling to be an advisor or get involved in teacher training perhaps. Although lots of advisory posts are being cut around here at the moment.

ImNotaCelebrity · 30/03/2012 00:06

I'm curious ... you're the owner/manager of an early years setting. Are you a qualified teacher?

I've been through 5 inspections during my career (and waiting for number 6!) - I have never seen a young inspector! They seem to go into it once they've got to the end of their final headship/leadership post, but aren't ready to retire completely.
I've yet to meet a teacher who aspires to being an inspector ... for all the reasons given already! I agree that advisory work is a far friendlier way to use your experience!

exoticfruits · 30/03/2012 07:17

I can't see the job satisfaction in being an inspector whereas I can see a lot in being an advisor. It is such a shame that they get cut when it is so useful to have a support system.

SecretSquirrels · 30/03/2012 10:20

I've met a lot of inspectors in the last couple of years. they had all travelled from afar and were staying overnight.
A couple were ex head teachers who had taken early retirement.

Iamnotminterested · 30/03/2012 12:23

Why on God's earth would you want to be an OFSTED inspector??

OFSTED don't "Enhance" lives or whatever the tosh is on their website; they ruin the lives and careers of decent, honest, hard-working teachers.

AngryAngry

HangingGarden · 30/03/2012 17:57

Not PC at all but I thought I'd share this just for fun!

There's only one f-in OFSTED
But that's quite enough for us.
But with no f-in lesson plans
There's one hell of an f-in fuss.

There's an f-in form to fill in
For everything that's said.
There'll be no f-in future
If that fails to please the Head.

Sounds like one f-in photocopier
Has died of overheat.
There's no f-in chance at all now
To keep the worksheets neat.

There'll be no f-in inspector
When your lesson is first rate,
And there's no f-in good excuse
To explain why you're late.

There should be an f-in handbook
For everything you do.
Tell the R.I. you left it
For light reading in the loo.

There's no f-in parking space
For half the f-in staff...
RESERVED for f-in OFSTED
Who have the last f-in laff.

There's no f-in spiritual
Or cultural education.
No f-in equality
But lots in differentiation.

There's only one F-in OFSTED
With its' "Education Speak"
Thank God there's an f-in Friday
To end the OFSTED WEEK.

clopper · 30/03/2012 20:32

Not PC, but sums it all up. Thanks for sharing that, especially on last day of term.

londonone · 30/03/2012 21:19

They recently advertised for inspectors think it has just closed! Pay about 67 thousand. Work from home

breadandbutterfly · 30/03/2012 21:39

What a great poem.

southeastastra · 30/03/2012 21:42

i don't think many parents take much notice of ofsted unless they are neurotic lunatics who have inflated ideas about themselves and their kids to start with

AwkwardMary · 30/03/2012 21:46

God...poor OP! Why pour such scorn on her?

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