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18 April 2026

Tag: Ofsted

Ofsted text scam warning

Ofsted has warned the education community to be vigilant after a childminder was targeted by fraudsters in a text scam. The education watchdog issued guidance on Wednesday after a childminder had received a text from someone posing as Ofsted and asking her to call a mobile phone number. However when the victim called the line she […]

Teacher top-ups: a solution to under-performance in Northern schools?

Ofsted’s annual report for 2014/15 highlighted an educational gap, not only between primary and secondary, but also between the north and south of England. Duncan Sim offers some concrete proposals to address the discrepancies in both funding and attainment. The north-south divide starts young. This is, at any rate, what the statistics about the relative performance of secondary […]

Safeguarding compliance – has the education recruitment sector been lucky so far?

The education sector spends millions, even billions (if you read some reports) per year on supply teachers and support staff. As this demand for teachers continues to grow, thousands of agency staff, often complete strangers are being sent into UK schools on a daily basis, writes David Boon. So it would stand to reason that […]

UTCs need ‘radical improvement’ to survive – Wilshaw

University Technical Colleges need “radical improvement” if the model is to survive, Sir Michael Wilshaw has said. The Ofsted chief inspector has been a champion of the controversial 14 to 19 vocational institutions during his tenure, but said consistency in their performance was missing and described their track record as “patchy” in a speech this […]

It’s official: Amanda Spielman approved as Ofsted chief inspector

Amanda Spielman has been approved by the Privy Council as Ofsted’s next chief inspector, the government has confirmed. The Department for Education told Schools Week this afternoon that the Council, which is made up of current and former ministers, party leaders and foreign dignitaries and advises the Queen, has signed off on Spielman’s appointment. In a statement, […]

Ministers to meet with Ofsted over omission of sexism from inspection handbook

Ministers will meet with Ofsted to discuss a “cohesive response” to sexual harassment and bullying in schools after the watchdog faced criticism for leaving sexism out of its handbook for inspectors. Although the handbook includes specific references to racist and homophobic bullying, as well as discrimination on the grounds of disability, there is nothing which […]

Ofsted gains 3 new non-executive directors

An academy director, retired college principal and business leader have been appointed as new non-executives for Ofsted. The new board members, who will serve the education watchdog for three years, are Richard Atkins, former president of the Association of Colleges, John Cridland, former director general of the Confederation of British Industry and Venessa Willms, current […]

Nicky Morgan confirms Spielman choice for Ofsted chief inspector

Education secretary Nicky Morgan has confirmed she will press ahead with plans to appoint Amanda Spielman as chief inspector of Ofsted. Morgan announced her intentions in a scathing letter to education select committee chair Neil Carmichael, published this afternoon. It follows the committee recommending Spielman is rejected for the role, saying she “lacked passion” and […]