Ofsted have paused inspections and training will be given...

[TortolaParadise]

I heard this on breakfast tv this morning.

Yes, reported here that inspections are to be paused 'for a few weeks' other than emergency safeguarding inspections

You can't train humanity. They purposefully hired the personalities they currently have on staff

Yes, they will be doing the mental health training that they said in Ruth Perry’s coroners enquiry that they already did and was a key part of their framework. So, did they lie in court?

Surely inspections should have been paused much sooner than this- and more needs to be done than just a short pause!

There needs to be a real conversation about what the purpose of Ofsted should actually be, and whether the current methods/framework are actually appropriate.

Thanks @BadlydoneHelen I have just read this.

Good point @Postapocalypticcowgirl because hundreds of inspections have taken place within this timeframe.

@waterdusky yes, certain personality types are certainly attracted to particular roles in all walks of life!

@Appuskidu Mmmmm. The intention to deliver training is all very well and good but implementation and impact.... we will wait and see.

The problem isn't just the inspectors though, it's embedded within the system. 24 hours notice, disregarding staffing illness, no one really sure what they expect (sometimes they want printed off documents, sometimes they will only look at what's on the website), completely subjective opinions without any moderation process, and judgements based on schools they have little contextual knowledge of. They currently have some good practices like staff and parental questionnaires, but the problem is, staff are so scared of losing their jobs that they are not going to be honest and parents are so busy and the time frame to respond is so short. For inspections to be effective and for schools to genuinely want to improve (not just make superficial improvements as a tick box exercise), then perhaps we need to make it almost like a mentoring process where schools are given specific targets and perhaps inspectors with experience in a similar context then works alongside the school with ideas of how to act on those targets and could be used alongside brainstorming when ideas aren't working. More partnerships with local schools to share ideas, train staff etc

The blame culture is unhelpful at all levels - SLT blaming teaching staff, teaching staff blaming SLT, subject leaders being blamed after the deep dive, SENCo's being blamed for all things SEN & medical. Some schools are very toxic and the blaming and shaming never ends.

Maybe the training should be extended to SLT too if we are serious about wellbeing.

Inspections apparently starting up again from 22nd Jan: how much training do we think happened?

Minimal! Lip service.

Need to lose those one word judgments...
That will be business as usual unfortunately...

I agree. Recognising the stress doesn’t go any way to reduce it.

As long as the one-word judgements are in place, they’ll be used as a stick to beat schools with-forced academisation will happen, heads will lose their jobs, schools in a category will be under immense stress causing staff to take medication or quit completely, estate agents change their descriptions of the area and house prices are affected. Nothing will change if this doesn’t.

Where did you hear about this?

Wow! This is inadequate!