Tag: Ofsted
News
The chief executive of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has resigned over safeguarding failings at one of the charity’s special schools. Sally Harvey’s decision to step...
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The way schools are held to account will be investigated by a new independent commission that seeks to find a “credible alternative” to the system of inspections and...
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Teachers should have to prove their subject knowledge is up-to-date at regular intervals to maintain their qualified status, a top Ofsted boss has said. Professor Daniel Muijs (pictured),...
Experts
The debate around the accountability of multi-academy trusts has intensified in recent months, writes Michael Pain As a handful of high-profile cases of failure hit the headlines, the...
News
Ofsted will allow 25 junior inspectors who signed up to a fast-track training programme with a cash incentive to lead new short inspections. Payments of £5,360 were made...
Experts
The battle for the soul of reception continues, especially on social media, writes Colin Richards It is clear that Ofsted has mismanaged both the writing and the reception...
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Harder key stage 2 SATs have resulted in a wider attainment gap between children on free meals and their peers, Ofsted has said. In the watchdog’s annual report,...
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A survey of civil servants working at the schools watchdog shows a surge in approval of Ofsted’s leadership and ability to manage change this year. The 2017 civil...
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Ofsted wants its safeguarding procedures to have “impact”, rather than merely checking that schools are “compliant”, an inspector has said. Lee Northern (pictured), a specialist advisor on inspection...
Experts
Schools should be safe spaces – allowing outside authority figures to probe young girls’ choice of religious expression is precisely the wrong approach to take, argues Zubeda Limbada...
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Plans to hike the fees small private schools must pay Ofsted are just the start of a programme of increased costs, according to a leading civil servant. Last...
Experts
Students and teachers alike know the lie behind their schools’ “Ofsted lessons”, says Isreal Genius, who wants to implement peer inspections As the focus on grades increases and...
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Small private schools are not failing Ofsted inspections because they refuse to teach British values, as the media has suggested, but because their leaders are often unqualified and...
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Ofsted wants to change the way it inspects multi-academy trusts (MATs) from September 2018, according to a senior inspector. Stephen McMullan told the annual conference of the National Co-ordinators...
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A state-school campaign group wants Ofsted to make reports on schools that convert into academies to become accessible “in perpetuity”, rather than removing them from its website after...
Experts
The inspectorate doesn’t always get things right, says Mark Lehain, but its latest review is important Ofsted gets a lot of hate from teachers. It’s just so easy to...
Experts
The watchdog’s new consultation on short inspections needed to be much further-reaching, says to Colin Richards Almost all schools and inspections are “-ish”. Only a few schools are...
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Ofsted is bringing back its “state-of-the-nation” reports and will inspect more ‘outstanding’ schools, according to a new corporate strategy released today on its 25th anniversary. In its new...
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Ofsted has praised the University of Chichester Academy Trust for “rapidly” improving its schools with “well-targeted challenge and support”. In a letter sent following inspections at several of...
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Ofsted is considering a new approach to book scrutiny, in which off-site inspectors will look at scanned versions of pupils’ books. The watchdog’s chief inspection Amanda Spielman gave...
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One of the country’s first ever academies has been taken over by a major London academy chain, after it fell into special measures. The Garrard Academy, formerly known...
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The Department for Education has this week started the hunt for an organisation to review complaints made against Ofsted. The three year contract is valued at £100,000 and...
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The future of online tests for trainee teachers is hanging in the balance, as the only provider which holds a contract to deliver them in England faces turmoil...
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Schools receiving negative Ofsted reports are now more likely to attempt to block them, solicitors have warned in the wake of a landmark High Court ruling. Durand Academy...
Experts
Risk-aversion in schools has gone too far, argues Andy Phippen. We need to empower our pupils to manage and mitigate risks themselves. In last week’s Sunday Times, Amanda...
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A free school in Newcastle that does not teach humanities, arts or foreign languages has been branded ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted in its first inspection. The education watchdog singled...
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Four illegal schools are refusing to comply with government enforcement notices to cease their operation immediately, forcing Ofsted to take legal action to shut them down, Schools Week...
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Teachers are less likely to trust Ofsted the longer they have worked in schools, a new survey has found. The annual Ofsted attitude teacher survey, published today, also...
Feature
Ofsted recently announced it will introduce a new focus on how schools plan their curriculum. We look at what the watchdog has said so far, how inspectors have...
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Sir Michael Wilshaw was awarded a bonus of at least £15,000 in his final year as chief inspector, despite Ofsted having to make savings to meet a shrinking...
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The Ofsted ratings of more than 700 schools have been wiped clean after becoming an academy or rebrokering, a Schools Week analysis reveals. There are hundreds of thousands...
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Schools will need to show they have “designed” their curriculum and whether it helps pupils to be upwardly socially mobile, says Sean Harford, Ofsted’s national director of education....
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Schools could be given up to 15 days to prepare for follow-up Ofsted visits under proposed changes to new short inspections. The watchdog has launched a consultation on...
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Ofsted inspectors have received no training on secondary modern schools, despite them operating in some of the toughest conditions in the country. Laurence Reilly, a headteacher who is...
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A former university vice-chancellor has been appointed as the new chair of education watchdog Ofsted. Professor Julius Weinberg will replace the current interim chair James Kempton, education secretary...
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Ofsted is considering tracking pupils’ and parents’ social media pages to help decide which schools need an intervention. But experts say that data from platforms such as Facebook...
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An academy trust led by the Trojan Horse investigation boss has been criticised by Ofsted for failing to secure urgent improvements at its academies. A focused review by...
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More than half of university technical colleges (UTC) visited by Ofsted have been rated “inadequate” or “requires improvement” compared with 10 per cent of schools overall. UTC Swindon,...
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Ofsted has dropped a commitment to send letters to headteachers doing an “exceptional turnaround job” at other schools after just one year and only five letters sent. The...
Profiles
Two months into the job and Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s new chief inspector, has shot out of the traps as you would expect – with research in hand. Criticised...
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Amanda Spielman has pledged to continue ‘inspecting the inspectors’ as part of a new Ofsted research drive after publishing a landmark reliability study. The education watchdog has this...
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Ofsted had to beef up safeguards during its double inspection reliability study after inspectors, who were supposed to independently come to final judgments, were found to be discussing...
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The government has committed a further £1 million to fund Ofsted’s team that investigates illegal schools, despite the watchdog still failing to bring a single prosecution against an...
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Sir Michael Wilshaw has become a trustee at Education Policy Institute (EPI) following his departure from Ofsted at the end of last year. The former chief inspector has joined...
Experts
How can we know which schools are good if inspectors are inconsistent and biased and the data is wrong, asks Becky Allen. We want school inspection to be...
News
A long-awaited Ofsted report on the “reliability” of inspections – tested through sending two inspectors to a school to see if they give the same judgment – will...
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A specialist body of safeguarding officers should be set up within or separately from Ofsted because inspections are “too short” to cover the issue properly, a multi-academy (MAT)...
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The education watchdog Ofsted has apologised after publishing an unapproved inspection report into Durand Academy that placed the beleagured south London school into special measures. Ofsted criticised the...
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Two free schools in Greater Manchester will be re-brokered to new multi-academy trusts after one was placed into special measures on its first inspection and the second given...
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More than 1,200 schools in England have not had a full Ofsted inspection in seven years, with more than 100 given respite for longer than a decade, a...
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A free school that tried to gag Ofsted from publishing an “inadequate” inspection now wants the grade quashed after it was rated “good” just ten school weeks after...
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One of England’s largest multi-academy trusts has been warned it has “let down pupils over a number of years” after a focused inspection of six of its schools...
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Ofsted to scrutinise governors’ commitment after report found many lack expertise to challenge heads
Ofsted will keep tabs on governors not committed to their roles after the watchdog found many lack the expertise to hold school leaders to account. The watchdog published...
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An under-fire academy trust has been given a warning notice and told to urgently improve, just weeks after an Ofsted inspection found serious weaknesses among its schools. The...
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Science and modern languages are going to get a good look-in too, says Sean Harford. Ofsted will increasingly check that science and modern languages are not being pushed...
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A school whose academy conversion hit the buffers over its controversial PFI deal has been put in special measures. Noel-Baker school, in Derby, has been rated inadequate in...
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The number of primary and secondary schools rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted has risen again this year – although nearly two thirds of special educational (SEN) needs pupils...
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Traditional careers programmes such as work experience and CV clinics will be trialled under a new £1 million pot to establish the most effective ways to deliver careers...
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A trust that qualified to be a “system leader” under government plans to rank academy chains has been criticised for failing to provide improvement support after an inspection...
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Sir Michael Wilshaw has warned against an over-reliance on data in judging schools, as he listed his proudest achievements at the helm of Ofsted in one of his...
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Schools will be more heavily judged on how they prepare pupils for the world of work after Ofsted warned they were putting the “nation’s future economic prosperity” at...
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Ofsted has praised the “hard work” of a council for driving school improvement just one year after it received a damning inspection report and postest the lowest key...
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Schools involved in new inspections designed to uncover whether local special educational needs are being met will be given a five-day notification period. Delegates at a Westminster Education...
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A school has lost its High Court challenge to overturn an Ofsted report placing it in “special measures”, although the watchdog has been ordered to amend its finding...
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Ofsted has abandoned its policy of publishing good practice to help to dispel myths that it insists on “prescribed methods of teaching and learning”. The watchdog launched a...
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Ofsted will offer cash incentives to lure less experienced inspectors into leading more school visits under a new action plan that also targets recruitment in struggling regions. Inspectors...
Profiles
Ofsted is not something Jarlath O’Brien talks about to his staff, he tells me, as we sip tea in his office, foliage framing our conversation. He goes a...
News
Hundreds of schools have been alerted to possible legal action by Ofsted after an obscure policy about unauthorised use of its logo to advertise a “good” rating surfaced....
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Ofsted and Ofqual have begun their quests to fill empty chairmanships as both face unsteady times as new chief executives settle in. Amanda Spielman leaves as Ofqual chair...
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Ofsted chair David Hoare is stepping down from his position with immediate effect, the education watchdog has confirmed. An Ofsted spokesperson told FE Week, Schools Week’s sister paper, this...
News
A high court showdown between a former Ofsted chair and the consultancy firm where she worked has revealed details of how a private company planned to make profits...
Experts
The education sector spends millions, even billions (if you read some reports) per year on supply teachers and support staff. As this demand for teachers continues to grow,...
News
Ofsted has warned the education community to be vigilant after a childminder was targeted by fraudsters in a text scam. The education watchdog issued guidance on Wednesday after a...
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University Technical Colleges need “radical improvement” if the model is to survive, Sir Michael Wilshaw has said. The Ofsted chief inspector has been a champion of the controversial...
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Amanda Spielman has been approved by the Privy Council as Ofsted’s next chief inspector, the government has confirmed. The Department for Education told Schools Week this afternoon that the...
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A free school has lost a high court challenge to gag Ofsted from publishing a damning inspection report – but has forced the education watchdog to hand over...
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Ministers will meet with Ofsted to discuss a “cohesive response” to sexual harassment and bullying in schools after the watchdog faced criticism for leaving sexism out of its...
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Education heavyweights have today publicly backed Amanda Spielman to be the next Ofsted chief inspector after a cross-party group of MPs rejected her appointment. Among those who have...
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Education secretary Nicky Morgan has confirmed she will press ahead with plans to appoint Amanda Spielman as chief inspector of Ofsted. Morgan announced her intentions in a scathing...
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The House of Commons education committee has rejected the government’s proposal that Amanda Spielman become the next chief inspector of Ofsted. But Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, has...
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An academy director, retired college principal and business leader have been appointed as new non-executives for Ofsted. The new board members, who will serve the education watchdog for...
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Ofsted’s new chief inspector will be left with a budget black hole of more than £30 million, Sir Michael Wilshaw has admitted. The inspectorate’s current boss says Ofsted...
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Ofsted will consider scrapping its controversial ‘outstanding’ grade, the new chief inspector has told MPs. Amanda Spielman, who has been selected by the government to succeed Sir Michael...
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Ofsted has formally written to inspectors urging them to look out for schools entering pupils for qualifications to boost their league-table standings, rather than in the best interests...
News
School leaders blame the struggle to recruit inspectors Ofsted has saved more than £3 million this year by delaying inspections, amid concerns about the lack of available inspectors....
Experts
Two grades, three categories, central data analysis and no aggregation. Go on Amanda Spielman, urges Matt Hood, what do you say to that? We have a new Ofsted...
Experts
One of the few Shakespearean phrases I knew growing up was “someone knock their bloody heads together”. Unfortunately, I learned one day when I was about 20 that...
Experts
In his latest commentary, Sir Michael Wilshaw said subjects like science and modern languages have become the ‘poor relations’ of the primary school curriculum. Colin Richards argues that Ofsted...
Experts
Watching Nicky Morgan getting beaten up by her own party over forced academy conversions, I suddenly realised the fatal flaw of her plan is not so much money,...
Experts
Levels created a misleading set of criteria from which teachers taught in limiting ways. But people were too optimistic as a landscape with “standards” looks anything but rosy...
Experts
Teachers and school leaders deserve more than a quick judgment from Ofsted teams. Inspectors should instead make positive and self-aware efforts to challenge and look beyond those instant...
Experts
Education Excellence Everywhere is the title of the government’s education White Paper published today. Although it lacks the excitement promised by Enid Blyton’s The Naughtiest Girl in the...
Experts
Educational Excellence Everywhere is full of fascinating, contentious and highly problematic proposals on a whole range of issues. Here, I focus on one apparently minor proposal which if...
Experts
Five areas need to be given priority if schools-led system is to become a reality English schools have a large measure of autonomy compared with many other countries....
Experts
Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw yesterday criticised schools in the north west – but was he within his remit to do so? I obsess about a few...
Experts
The lighter-touch regime is a welcome move, but why is the chief inspector still obsessing over pupils being well behaved and showing respect when finding after finding shows...
Experts
Despite Ofsted’s changes to the framework, we are already doing what we can – and how is this new duty imposed on us any different to what went...
Experts
Over the past two weeks many stories have been written about exam dates changing to accommodate Ramadan. The stories often appear to contradict each other, and disagreement about...
Experts
Sir Michael Wilshaw is right: governors need professional development. But he’s wrong about the money. It would be a mistake to do away with the voluntary nature of...
