Can we talk about Ofsted? Recently had a visit!

[OfstedOrganised]

As the title says. I'm a regular who's name changed as would like to be able to talk a bit more freely without the worry of people identifying me.

We were visited just before half term (I'm a governor). We went from outstanding to good, but we're pleased with that given the new framework. I think it's a fab school

Seems the general feeling is that Ofsted does little to improve schools but does plenty to demoralise teachers and tie them up in knots with paperwork. There is a shortage of teachers and headteachers nationally and I suspect that this is because not many are willing to take on this sort of pressure. As many have said the inspectors seem to give little guidance to teachers on how to do better they just get punished for not ticking every box. While bad teaching practice needs to be addressed our schools need to be supported not attacked and publicly flogged.

Well said shebird

A friend of mine, who is also a teacher, received an 'unsatisfactory' for her lesson, because one of the children was deemed to have made zero progress in the lesson. This was a Year 5 class, and the boy in question was p scale. Frankly, huge learning difficulties, on an IEP etc, but really was never going to progress much past level 1 by the time he leaves Year 6 in any case. Her lesson had been differentiated to accommodate his needs (as normal) and the Ofsted inspector even said he wasn't sure what he personally would have done differently. But she didn't 'tick all the boxes'

Quite how a teacher can be held responsible for children's brain capacities is beyond me! It's like blaming dentists for cavities!!

That is totally ridiculous purplebaubles and its the reason why Ofsted is such a joke. How can the inspectors know for sure that all 30 children have made progress by observing one lesson? Some children will take a while to grasp something new and it might be something that is revisited a number of times before all children make progress. As long as the teaching is sound and delivered to suit all levels then what more can be expected.

Ofsted report released wonders if OP teaches in our school. Slipped to 'Requires Improvement'. The school written about in the report doesn't reflect what I've seen in DSs first 18 months or so. Feel sorry for the teachers really.