Independent ISI vs Ofsted

[papaandmama]

So three private schools in my area have had recent ISI inspections and all of of them have had Excellent in every area. Is this standard? Is it a case of ‘grade inflation’ where they know it’s not in their interest to bring down independent schools or does ISI get tough and criticise schools when necessary?
(It got me thinking because one of the schools that is supposedly ‘excellent’ doesn’t seem that great…)

Exactly!

@Slippersandrum sounds sensible like preventative maintenance on a home. as long as the short comings are corrected and remain so no harm is done.

IME, ISI inspections are carried out by current senior teachers (apart from the Reporting Inspector who may be recently retired), whereas Ofsted use salaried inspectors.

ISI data is pored over before the inspection - you can tell there is an inspection imminent because of downloads from the website, whereas Ofsted inspectors only see what is on the public website.

ISI inspectors understand that independent schools can be unique and niche in the communities that they are serving, whereas Ofsted is one-size-fits-all.

The isi are inspecting ‘their own’. Individual teams (not all) clearly accept the word of the leadership rather than anyone outside that small unit. They are simply not impartial. The system needs to be moved to Ofsted. Woeful.

Yes, that is also my experience of ISI.
We raised serious complaints about a school, including misconduct by the head. The board of governors refused to investigate the head's misconduct, and the letter informing us of this was sent by the head we had complained about. The board of governors then appointed one of their chums to "investigate" the other issues, who did a whitewash. They failed to follow their own complaints procedure.
The school was inspected by ISI a few months ago. Guess what - a glowing bill of health, and lavish praise for the leadership team and governors.
ISI is rotten and there is no accountability in private schools - the SLT and governors can do whatever they want.

State schools arrange mock inspections too

Ofsted also uses current SLT teachers.

I agree. ISI is more of a peer review system than an inspection.

It’s not about having funds to be brilliant, it’s a different inspection regime that doesn’t notice defects . ISI are nowhere near as insightful. At our school they even praised what the school was yet to implement. However they glossed over elements such as no consistent assessment policy and where the curriculum needed improvement. Then you look at the glowing tome - the inspectors were in awe of the school and certainly didn’t have the background needed for scrutiny and inspections. One had been head of a recently closed school due to failing numbers and it was nothing like our school.

Ofsted have their issues but they are better trained. Money in private schools doesn’t mean all teaching, curriculum, assessment, lesson planning and quality of learning are guaranteed or even that policies are in place and followed. Unfortunately isi rarely notice. It’s definitely buyer beware .

Have you informed the DfE? I suggest you inform the perm sec and the DfE Independent schools unit. There are cases going through regarding ISI alledged ‘inspections’ which have given glowing outcome to schools having serious stand failures on a horrific level. Those inspectors are clearly dismissing multiple parent complaint as ‘mad’ and siding with the heads.

The isi ‘safeguarding’ officers back at the office and those ‘officials’ responsible for verifying the ‘inspection’ reports before publishing are also salaried £70k. They neither report or act on any safeguarding concerns sent to them during/after an inspection even extreme examples by whistleblowers. The whole ‘ISI’ system is woeful. Only a school can complain about their report not any parent group or teacher or third party. Absolute jokes

💯
This is our experience of DCs school, which, for the second year running, has been nominated for the TES Prep School of the Year Award. Or ‘the Oscars of the Prep School World” as the Head Master (preparing yet more school marketing in his distant office) put it.

Yes. DfE did nothing. The teacher regulation agency did nothing.
Offrolling of kids with SEN, headteacher threating immediate exclusion if parents sought legal advice; a "fight club" running in the boys toilets; older pupils whipping younger ones in mixed aged dorms; year 11 students dealing drugs to kids in year 8. ISI oblivious and remained hugely impressed.

What year did you report this? Can we dm?
there is a serious and similar case ongoing right now just wondering if we have the same school

The marketing departments/social media person have a lot to answer for in recent years.
the ISI inadequacies must be raised repeatedly with the perm sec or this will not change. Headmasters threatening parents is happening, false safeguarding reporting is happening. The authorities are aware - see DfE analysis of numerous failings by the ISI where heads/deputies/governors have deceived.

@CiaoParentisi really need to delve as Ofsted do. They seem to believe what they are told instead of looking at data and sampling work. I’ve never been convinced they have people good enough to look at the curriculum and how learning is checked and lessons planned. It all seems airbrushed light touch.

I remember our school not being in the Tatler guide……. Marketing matters.

It’s fascinating how private schools can go ‘under the national standards radar’ thanks to the ISI inadequate inspections.
teachers don’t need teaching qualifications, heads don’t need experience, qualifications or to follow statutory conduct, governors…. Don’t get me started on how inept some chairs are. It’s fascinating how these people just keep taking payment and or kudos without following any charity or KCSIE rules. What do the isi do - cover it up.

I’m not so sure ISI know where the goal posts are in order to cover things up.

Sorry for the mixed metaphor.

I didn’t get the impression they covered things up - more that they were not capable of looking. They take too much on trust.

For every parent who does complain there are loads who do not even when things are not good. From experience many parents feel like if they complain it devalues their conscious choice and so I’ve heard parents promote and say how wonderful a school is when I’ve seen their child suffer bulimia encouraged by others in the school and the school denying there is an issue. When poor teaching results in off-rolling of pupils, the off-rolled child’s family seems to just disappear and no one kicks up. If this happens in a state school parents will complain.

The difference is choice, just my observation is that independent school parents feel locked into their choice, state school had less choice and so are perhaps more vocal even when the school isn’t as bad as the private school. This is coming from the perspective as a parent who has had a child in private for primary and state for secondary.

I think you are spot on. There’s also an issue where some of the more inadequate private schools have offered discounts/scholarships. Each family is under the impression they are one of a minority. This further hinders complaint. It also allows more ‘devious’ leaders to apply threats and leverage if people speak up

Most schools clearly say what scholarships they can offer. Bursaries are more opaque. Some schools don’t offer very many. I think these parents won’t rock the boat. Others sometimes do. I’ve seen some become governors. I think astute slt do understand if parents are restless but a head can resist change. In my DDs senior school, out of 65 in the year group, only 26 continued to the 6th form. The school had to work out what was going wrong as they were haemorrhaging fee income.

There are schools which academically are pretty woeful particularly at A Level stage - see The Telegraph ‘best value schools’ . The annual reports show exactly how much the school is financially adrift - the results are poor hence the panicked offer continually to offer discounts and significant ‘discounts’ whether those are listed as ‘bursaries or scholarships’ . Instead of pushing for wholesale standard improvement weak governance can lead to simply discount on discount on discount. In this climate that’s going to be a tough model to continue.
however just returning to the Ofsted/isi debate it would be interesting if financial management was assessed…. Poor financial management maybe a reflection of poor overall management if the variables of govt change/monetary policy are removed? Just a thought….. if you can’t raise standards of academics, send support or safeguarding then parents vote with their feet…. Hence discount inducement ?