Ofsted | Schools Week

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Private school pupils at risk of ‘county lines’ exploitation, warn agencies

Affluent children attending private schools are being groomed into selling drugs because they are less likely to be suspected by the police, a group of government agencies has warned. A study released by Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and the Inspectorate of Probation found it was not […]

Independent Schools Inspectorate raises fees after two-year loss

The main inspectorate for private schools has hiked its fees by 12 per cent after operating at a loss for the past two years. The Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI), which inspects about 1,000 larger private schools, posted an operating loss of £441,000 last year, following a £498,000 loss in 2016. The losses have contributed to […]

Online progs vs trads debate ‘too polarised’, warns Ofsted research chief

Debate over pedagogy has become “too polarised” and fighting between traditionalists and progressives on social media “quite unhelpful”, Ofsted’s research chief has said. Professor Daniel Muijs told Schools Week the “trads-vs-progs” debate had become a “simplification of the evidence around teaching, around pedagogy, to say that it is one or the other”. “In general teachers […]

£2.4m on research is money well spent, says Ofsted boss

Ofsted’s increased focus and spending on research is “more important” as the inspectorate faces cost pressures, its head of research has said. Professor Daniel Muijs (pictured) has defended the inspectorate’s plans to shell out £2.4 million on research over the next two years. It comes as senior staff have been at pains to point out […]

Under-fire Ofsted plans research to assess impact of school funding cuts

Ofsted is planning to research the impact of funding cuts, as its chief inspector comes under fire for standing firm on her insistence there is no “clear evidence” to show funding pressures are hitting schools. Daniel Muijs, Ofsted’s head of research, told Schools Week the inspectorate will be running research next year on the impact […]

Warning notices issued to 148 private schools

The government has issued warning notices to almost 150 private schools in the last 12 months, with two schools failing to meet standards in all eight categories they are inspected on. The Department for Education published the warning notices for the first time in February, more than two years after a Schools Week campaign first […]