Ofsted | Schools Week

Joining live lessons won’t be ‘the norm’, says Ofsted

Ofsted has reassured schools that inspectors will not be joining pupils’ live lessons as “the norm” during its remote monitoring inspections this term. New guidance last week said inspectors could join online lessons to “understand how education is being provided by the school”. The announcement prompted concern from teachers who feared that the practice would […]

Ofsted inspections to be done remotely after U-turn

Ofsted monitoring inspections will now take place remotely until half term, following a U-turn by the watchdog. The inspectorate had been due to begin in-person monitoring inspections of schools from next week. However, Ofsted announced tonight that following a review of its plans, it has decided that “all planned inspection activity will be undertaken remotely […]

Ofsted inspectors to have Covid tests before visiting schools

Ofsted inspectors will take Covid-19 tests before carrying out on-site monitoring visits later this month, the watchdog has announced. The inspectorate’s new ‘supportive’ monitoring visits will begin from January 18, despite partial school closures having been enacted last week. We are arranging a testing programme, which will enable inspectors to take a test before face-to-face […]

Gavin Williamson update on spring partial closures: What did we learn?

The education secretary has given more information about the government’s contingency plans for schools, after it was announced that mainstream settings will move to remote education for most pupils. Here’s what we learned. 1. Teacher assessment to replace exams, but no algorithm The government had already announced that GCSE and A-level exams would not […]

Schools failing to meet remote ed expectations should be reported to Ofsted, says Williamson

Parents who feel their child’s school isn’t providing “suitable” remote education should report them to Ofsted, the education secretary has said. Gavin Williamson said today that the government’s “legally-binding requirements” would be “enforced by Ofsted”, and that the watchdog would inspect schools “of any grade” where it has “serious concerns” about the quality of remote […]

Glenys Stacey to chair Ofqual’s new ‘2021 committee’ to oversee next summer’s exams

Outgoing exams chief Dame Glenys Stacey is to chair a new Ofqual committee with oversight of next year’s exams. In an exit interview with Schools Week, the interim chief regulator revealed she would “retain a stake” in the policy area as chair of the “2021 committee”, a new subcommittee of Ofqual’s board. By staying on […]

Pupils 6 months behind and teachers ‘physically fatigued’ – Ofsted’s final ‘visits’ analysis

Ofsted has identified six months’ learning loss in some pupils, a “wide variability” in numbers returning to school and “physical fatigue” among staff in its latest report from interim visits to schools this year. The watchdog has published analysis based on 297 one-day visits carried out in November. Here’s what they found. 1. Some […]

Ofsted to resume ITE inspections from April

Full graded inspections of initial teacher education will recommence in April, Ofsted has confirmed. Like its other inspections, Ofsted’s activity in ITE was suspended earlier this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But the inspectorate has issued a note today confirming the inspections will resume in April. It follows an announcement that full […]

Council with rising home education rapped for potential off-rolling

Ofsted has rapped a council after discovering potential off-rolling of children in care, with the number of pupils educated at home shooting up more than 20 per cent. The watchdog does not name the schools and will only report on the alleged practices if they continue once full inspections resume in the summer term. Ofsted’s […]