Chris Russell | Schools Week

Ofsted to review inspector training following Ruth Perry death

The watchdog will consider whether to draw up official guidance for inspectors on managing headteacher stress

Safeguarding grade fears ‘out of proportion’, says Ofsted director

Chris Russell also said Ofsted recognised schools ‘could not be everything to everyone’ post-Covid

Lee Owston to become Ofsted national director for education

Current deputy director for schools and education will replace Chris Russell in January

Inspectors aren’t handing in their badges, says Ofsted director

Despite calls from unions and Ruth Perry’s sister, heads working as Ofsted inspectors aren’t quitting according to the watchdog’s Chris Russell

Ofsted tells inspectors to explicitly state when off-rolling is found to quash school denials

Ofsted has told its inspectors to explicitly state in their reports when evidence of off-rolling is found after schools falsely denied it had taken place. Previously, inspectors were simply told to “address” evidence of off-rolling in reports. But the documents did not always use the phrase “off-rolling”, even when the practice was identified. But in […]

Chris Russell to replace Sean Harford as Ofsted’s national education director

Ofsted is to name Chris Russell as its new national director of education, replacing Sean Harford, Schools Week has learned. The watchdog revealed last month that Harford will leave at the end of August this year after deciding to take early retirement. Russell is currently Ofsted’s regional director for the south east, having previously held […]