The NAHT leaders’ union has joined calls for a change in Ofsted’s leadership, claiming the watchdog’s ability to restore the trust of school leaders “has been lost”. The National Association of Head Teachers is calling for “fundamental reform” of Ofsted and a change in its leadership, following a vote by its national executive committee today. The committee also “delegated authority” to the union’s general secretary Paul Whiteman and its national officers “to take whatever action is necessary to secure immediate relief for school leaders and to achieve lasting reform of the inspection system”. This includes considering “all options available to the union in pursuing change”, including balloting for strike action. The NAHT represents more than 50,000 school leaders across the country, mostly in primary schools. Third union joins calls It is the third union to demand a change in Ofsted’s leadership in the last week, amid mounting concerns about the level of pressure inspections place on school leaders and staff and their wellbeing. Ofsted has been led by former Outwood Grange Academies Trust CEO Martyn Oliver since January 2024, when he took over from former chief inspector Amanda Spielman. NAHT said today that Ofsted’s “leadership and culture…must change so that the government and the sector can engage, in an atmosphere of restored trust and good faith, to create an inspection system that is trusted by the sector, valued by parents and the government”. The committee agreed the “harmful impact of Ofsted’s inspection regime and culture on the wellbeing of school leaders and their staff is now well established”. It added that efforts to reform the inspectorate “have failed to address deep-rooted concerns across the profession”. Confidence ‘fragile’ say governors Following reforms in the wake of the death of Caversham Primary School headteacher Ruth Perry, Ofsted introduced new education inspections late last year in a bid to reduce the pressure school staff face. But an independent evaluation of the new framework by IFF Research, commissioned by Ofsted, revealed last Friday that almost nine in 10 schools feel new inspections are having a negative impact on staff wellbeing. Half said their inspection caused an unmanageable level of workload. The ruling council of school leaders’ union ASCL passed a vote of no confidence in Ofsted’s leadership on Friday. On Wednesday, the National Education Union said Oliver should stand down, having “lost the confidence of the profession”. The National Governance Association also this week said confidence in inspection is “fragile” among school governors. Responding to its annual survey, governors described inspections as “brutal”, and expressed concerns about their impact on school staff. The NAHT welcomed these statements, saying its “concerns about Ofsted’s leadership and direction are increasingly being shared across the education sector”. Ofsted has acknowledged “there is more to do” on workload and wellbeing, which “remain a challenge”. It said it is working with the Department for Education on this. We need ‘serious answers’ says CST boss Education secretary Lucy Powell is understood to be planning changes at the inspectorate “within the next few months”. Details have yet to be announced. This morning she told the Confederation of School Trusts annual conference she hears “the need for change” to the accountability system. She said she wanted schools to be recognised for doing “the right thing” and that she won’t “duck” this challenge. Real inclusion is about “more than what’s on your data dashboard”, she added. Oliver is due to address the conference tomorrow, and speaking earlier today, CST’s chief executive Leora Cruddas said inspection “must be proportionate, evidence-informed, attentive to context and worthy of the confidence of the profession”. “We must be prepared to examine not only the quality of our schools, but the quality of the institutions and processes through which we judge them. “I know Martyn [Oliver] intends to talk about these challenges tomorrow and set out steps to improve confidence in inspection.” Cruddas hopes to get “serious answers to these concerns”, along with a “commitment to continuing dialogue” with the profession. NAHT’s statement in full “At a meeting of the national executive of the NAHT today (Thurs 15 October), it was resolved to congratulate and commend ASCL, NGA and NEU for their recent statements declaring their loss of confidence in Ofsted and its leadership. The deleterious impact of the inspection framework and the culture of Ofsted towards the health and wellbeing of school leaders and their teams is now well documented. We consider the approach of Ofsted to the reform of inspection has been dishonest and deficient. Right from the deficient “Big Listen”, the failure to publish the full results of that consultation, and the outrageous spin applied to the IFF feedback last week is demonstrable of a culture of deliberate misdirection that has no place in public service. NAHT pursued a Judicial review challenge in 2025, has continuously campaigned for safe and proportionate inspection before and since the review and renewal of the framework that was prompted by tragedy and a coroner’s prevention of future deaths report. It is now clear that the collective representatives of school leadership not only hold the same opinion but are voicing this in public as the continuing damage committed by such a culture can no longer be tolerated. This is no longer about further amendment to a bankrupt framework. The leadership and culture of Ofsted must change so that the government and the sector can engage, in an atmosphere of restored trust and good faith, to create an inspection system that is trusted by the sector, valued by parents and the government. The national executive committee therefore gives delegated authority to the General Secretary and National Officers of the union to take whatever actions are necessary to achieve the immediate relief needed by school leaders and engage with the government to achieve a lasting solution.” ‘More to do’ An Ofsted spokesperson said: “There is a delicate balancing act at the heart of our work – we must maintain high standards in the interests of children, while at the same time doing all we can to reduce the pressure felt by heads and teachers. “We know workload and wellbeing remain a challenge and there is more to do. We are working with the Department for Education, and listening both to parents and professionals, as we continue to improve inspections.”