News

Nick Gibb: Teachers should use evidence, not ‘latest fad’ from Ofsted

Teachers should base their approach on evidence and not on the “latest fad” from Ofsted, Nick Gibb has told education professionals as he expressed fears about the approach of some inspectors.

The schools minister told the Association of Teachers and Lecturers annual conference the idea that some inspectors look for a preferred method of teaching has “always been [his] concern about Ofsted”, and said he wanted to make sure the watchdog wasn’t “demanding things” beyond its remit.

One of the most common concerns raised about Ofsted by teachers is that some of its inspectors focus too much on how classes are being taught rather than the overall approach to learning in schools and the outcomes of pupils.

Although he denied rumours that he wanted to see the inspectorate scrapped, Mr Gibb did admit to fears about its approach in some situations, and said the government was working with Ofsted bosses to bust the myths about what it could and couldn’t demand of teachers.

He said: “It worries me that in the years since Ofsted was established that actually some of the things that they’ve been telling schools to do are not based on what the evidence says is most effective. That has always been my concern about Ofsted.”

Mr Gibb said he wanted to make sure Ofsted wasn’t “undermining the professional autonomy of the teaching profession”, and said he wanted a “mature profession” that used evidence for its approach to teaching and not “the latest fad which emanates from Ofsted”.

He praised Sir Michael Wilshaw for “huge reform” carried out in the years since his appointment as Ofsted chief inspector, and said a decision to bring inspectors in-house had resulted in a “higher calibre” of inspector.

The schools minister also admitted to “mistakes” made in the introduction of new key stage 2 tests, and said an error in an exemplification document published by the government had led to confusion.

He said people had been led to believe that the achievement of the pupil referred to as “Leigh” in the document was at the bottom end of the standard expected, when his was in fact at the top end of the standard, and the pupil known as “Morgan” was achieving at the bottom end.

“There were mistakes made,” he said. “One of the mistakes that was made was the way the exemplification material was published, between Morgan and Leigh, and people were led to believe, and it was our fault, that Lee was the expected standard that people were aiming at.”

He said he was “absolutely aware” of the “huge challenge” of the past five years of assessment and curriculum reform, and had been “worried about the challenge of assessments”.

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply to John Thomson Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

4 Comments

  1. John Thomson

    I am unsure that Ofsted are clear about what they are looking at. Inspectors appear to be able to interpret the requirements which results in schools and nurseries being unsure about what they respond to.

    This confusion at Ofsted level appears to be illustrated by what seems the continual release of directive documents, often only months apart. This rate of change and amendment has then to be enacted at school and nursery level with John Thomsonwhat appears to be little understanding of what this actually means in both time and application.

    The ministers comment and observations are important but it is important for everyone to understand that whilst there is such a time delay in corrective action, individual children’s education is marching on and for this reason this is a consideration that should be acted upon sooner than later.

  2. Janet Downs

    I’m no fan of Ofsted but Sir Michael has said on numerous occasions that there is no preferred Ofsted teaching style. I’d be less worried about Ofsted’s alleged ‘fads’ and more worried that Gibb was the one who is ‘undermining the professional autonomy of the teaching profession’ by making it clear what he likes and dislikes.

    • John Smith

      It’s the purpose of a Schools Minister that needs looking at more than the work of Ofsted. Why do such positions even exist? What a waste of money.