Union calls for halt to graded Ofsted inspections over health concerns

Sincity Press Staff 1 hour ago 2 min read 2
Sincity Press Brief

The National Association of Head Teachers says inspections in England may pose a "risk to life" for school leaders.

The NAHT says it has shared examples with Education Secretary Lucy Powell of immoderate of the "damaging experiences" it says its members person faced.

Speaking to LBC earlier this month, Powell said she took caput teacher wellbeing "incredibly seriously" and that the strategy of accountability needed to beryllium "supportive and understanding.

"I'll proceed the enactment that I bash with caput teachers, caput teacher representatives and others to marque definite that we get this Ofsted framework, but besides the civilization and the full regime, right," she added.

The NAHT said the results of a caller survey of its members suggested that the bulk who responded felt that inspections had worsened successful the past 12 months.

The national is present calling for inspections to intermission to let for a "fundamental reappraisal of however inspection works", drafting connected examples from different nations.

In Wales, the inspectorate Estyn has removed judgements specified arsenic "excellent" and "good" from its reports, alternatively summarising findings by highlighting a school's strengths and areas for improvement.

Northern Ireland's Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) besides uses communicative reports without grades.

Scotland's His Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HIME) does usage grades, but determination has been a caller consultation connected their use.

NAHT wide caput Paul Whiteman said: "The wide taxable emerging crossed each the feedback we person received is that this Ofsted model is adjacent much stressful than the 1 that preceded it.

"It poses a existent and contiguous information to the well-being and intelligence wellness of schoolhouse leaders and teachers, perchance adjacent a hazard to life."

He said helium welcomed the caller acquisition secretary's absorption connected teacher wellbeing, adding: "Really cardinal changes to inspection are needed, and we basal acceptable to enactment with the caller authorities to execute that."

Responding, Ofsted said it has worked intimately with teaching unions implicit the past 3 years, to present important reforms and trim unnecessary unit connected teachers.

"Ofsted exists to rise standards for children and to supply wide reporting to parents," a spokesperson said.

"We volition proceed to prosecute intimately with trades unions – but we volition besides proceed to people schools."