Ofsted | Schools Week

Ofsted needs to recognise the role of governors in its new framework

School leaders who help other institutions “turn around” are to be recognised as “exceptional” with a letter from Ofsted, it was announced on Monday when the inspectorate’s Common Inspection Framework was launched. Headteachers have already discussed the ins and outs of this change, which will also see a copy of the letter going to the […]

Ofsted plan for ‘exceptional leader’ letters receives nervous reaction from heads

In a series of changes to Ofsted practices set out by Michael Wilshaw today, headteachers who are doing an “exceptional turnaround job” will now be recognised with a letter. In his speech, he said: “We need great leaders in our education system from the early years upwards. Indeed, we need more mavericks, not fewer. And […]

Guide to the New Ofsted Reforms: Shorter inspections, ‘exceptional leaders’ and complaints scrutiny

Michael Wilshaw has announced a series of changes to Ofsted practices from September this year. It was already known that inspections would be ‘frequent but shorter‘ and would amalgamate frameworks from the early years through to further education. But a few more details have also been announced: 1. Good schools will be inspected once every […]

Ofsted Reforms: Is this the right way to inspect, or respect, schools ?

Earlier this year Ofsted claimed “the reforms we will introduce in September 2015 are intended to enable us to inspect the right things in the right way”. That was a rash claim – based on two highly contestable assumptions. First, that there is one right way to inspect and, second, that after almost yearly revisions […]

How do exam writers put together questions for tests?

After an Edexcel GCSE maths question about Hannah’s sweets went viral on Twitter yesterday, exam writer Paula Goddard gives an insight into the way question papers are put together. The probability of orange sweeties and calculating the size of a lump of cheese – clearly the examination question writer was feeling a bit peckish when […]

If I were education secretary…

To deliver the best possible education for all children we need motivated, well-paid and respected teachers. School budgets must be sufficient to meet the needs of every pupil and our children deserve to be taught by qualified teachers. The current curriculum is not encouraging critical or creative thinking, particularly at primary level where the succession of tests […]

If we want to teach ‘British values’ then we need to do this….

How do we know what British values even are? And how should we teach them? Expert Matt Hood explores the answer. Before you read on, open a browser and google ‘British values.’ After a couple of links to the department for education you will see link after link of different school websites where you’ll find […]

How schools can be the happiest places to work

While the headlines can sometimes be alarmist, Henry Stewart explains how schools can be one of the happiest places to work. Could schools be great places to work in, where teachers feel trusted and valued? That was the question posed at a recent conference on ‘happy productive schoolsl. A survey carried out in advance of […]

Ofsted should only ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ schools

Ofsted has become too pervasive. It is time now for it to become a regulator, rather than a school improver Ofsted has recognised the need for reform. It has said that good schools will face frequent but shorter visits in the future, and it will give more weight to subjects such as music. But in […]