Ofsted | Schools Week

SSAT 2016: Numeracy and literacy focus narrowed the curriculum, says Sean Harford

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 out of the curriculum because of a historical focus on numeracy and literacy – with the inspection body “putting its hands up” to playing a role in […]

Ofsted sticks school in special measures, criticising ‘messy’ talks over academy status

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 every category with inspectors blaming “messy” talks over academy status having a “negative impact on vital school improvement work”. The local authority-maintained school was built as part […]

Ofsted annual report: School ratings rise, but progress stalls for SEN pupils

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 in some regions are not “progressing well”. Ofsted’s 2015-16 annual report, published this morning, found that nine in ten primary schools are rated good or outstanding, up […]

Career education under microscope as part of £1m evidence drive

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 education. The fund is aimed at boosting future job prospects for disadvantaged pupils, and will be run under a partnership between the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), the […]

Wilshaw warns against over-reliance on data as he lists proudest Ofsted achievements

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 last speeches as chief inspector. The Ofsted boss told delegates at an Education Policy Institute event this morning that a purely data-driven school accountability system would save the government […]

Plymouth Cast trust criticised over leadership and safeguarding failings

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 by Ofsted. Ten of the 36 academies run by Plymouth CAST trust were inspected as part of a focused inspection in October after concerns over the trust’s […]

Ofsted to put more emphasis on preparation of pupils for employment

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 risk because of a failure to sufficiently prioritise enterprise education. Inspectors found that just 10 per cent of schools were getting enterprise education right, and warned that poor […]

Ofsted praises council with worst results for ‘resolute’ turnaround

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 stage 2 results in the country. Bradley Simmons (pictured), Ofsted’s regional director for the south west, said it was “only right” that he should publicly congratulate Poole […]

Ofsted will give 5 days’ notice of SEND inspections

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 Forum, held last week in central London, pressed Joanna Hall (pictured below), deputy director of schools at Ofsted, on the rules for joint inspections of local area […]