• The Seldon List: OECD chief and schools minister top trad-dominated education influencers list

    Andreas Schleicher, the OECD’s education chief, Nick Gibb, the schools minister, and Amanda Spielman, the head of Ofsted, have topped a new list of the most influential people in education. The list, drawn up by Sir Anthony Seldon with the help of a panel of 20 educationists, is likely to be controversial as it dominated…

    5.00 Jan. 11th, 2019 | News

  • Hinds urges Ofsted to ensure new MAT evaluations aren't 'undue burdens'

    Education secretary Damian Hinds has warned Ofsted its new academy trust “summary evaluations” must not create “undue burdens” on schools, as new details of the evaluations are released. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman revealed earlier this month the watchdog was introducing a new inspection regime for academy trusts. In its annual report, the watchdog said…

    14.22 Dec. 13th, 2018 | News

  • Nearly half of primaries score poorly on curriculum quality, new Ofsted study shows

    Nearly half of all primary schools scored poorly in Ofsted’s latest curriculum study – with an apparent focus on English and maths sidelining foundation subjects. For instance, seven of the 33 primaries schools visited by the inspectorate under phase 3 of its curriculum study, published today, had a “complete absence” of curriculum design in humanities.…

    10.09 Dec. 11th, 2018 | News

  • Practise what you preach on SEND, Ofsted told

    A literacy charity has praised Ofsted for its “unprecedented” intervention on behalf of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities – but warned that its words “must be turned into action”. In its annual report published on Tuesday, the inspectorate was critical of the high exclusion rates of SEND pupils in mainstream schools, refusals by…

    5.00 Dec. 9th, 2018 | News

  • Trust praised by ministers tops suspensions tables in Ofsted's areas of concern

    An academy trust praised by ministers tops the fixed-term exclusions tables in four authorities that concern Ofsted Exclusions divide education. The government’s Timpson Review is currently looking at the practice and earlier this year Ofsted wrote to schools in ten local authorities about their high fixed-term exclusion rates. Six of those ten have provided figures…

    7.00 Dec. 7th, 2018 | News

  • Can we get some clear messaging from Ofsted on exclusions?

    Ofsted is giving mixed messages to schools about exclusions, and it’s only going to push the problem underground, says Mark Lehain Recent years have seen ever greater attempts by Ofsted to be more transparent in its decision making, and engage more widely with professionals and the public. Being able to interact with senior staff at…

    12.00 Dec. 5th, 2018 | Opinion

  • Ofsted could do more to reward schools for being inclusive

    Amanda Spielman can make Ofsted a force for good by ensuring that in the new framework, no school can be outstanding unless they can also demonstrate they are inclusive, says Adam Boddison This morning, Ofsted published their annual report and it was good to see consideration given to learners with special educational needs and/or disabilities. …

    15.57 Dec. 4th, 2018 | Opinion

  • A lack of sponsors? Simple, ditch compulsory academisation

    Today’s annual report by HMCI Amanda Spielman covers a lot of ground, but let’s pick up here on one important section that shows starkly the flaw in the government’s policy of compulsory academisation. The report points out that the turnaround rates for underperforming schools remain too slow and that a lack of sponsor capacity means…

    15.58 Dec. 4th, 2018 | Opinion

  • Ofsted's two-in-one annual report

    This year’s annual report is notable for the skilful way in which the politics was managed – although the biggest challenge is still to come, says Jonathan Simons The publication of the Ofsted annual report is always an important moment in the educational policy calendar. And while it is theoretically merely a summary of the…

    15.23 Dec. 4th, 2018 | Opinion

  • Why is Ofsted silent on the school funding crisis?

    If Ofsted is happy to rely on anecdotal evidence for off-rolling and school readiness, why does it refuse to speak out on the school funding crisis, the impacts of which are clear as day, asks Paul Whiteman Ofsted’s annual report describes a school system that is performing well but is under significant strain. The number…

    14.05 Dec. 4th, 2018 | Opinion

  • Luke Tryl, director of corporate strategy, Ofsted

    Luke Tryl, Ofsted’s director of corporate strategy, is one of those people who always appears impeccably presented – which is why it’s reassuring, as I smooth down my hair from the cycle ride, to notice that he’s wearing one poppy-red sock and one powder-blue. He casually crosses and uncrosses his ankles, settled in a low…

    5.00 Nov. 20th, 2018 | Features