Press Release

Ofsted Proposals

19 May 2008

Commenting on the Chief Inspector’s proposals to change school inspections, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said;

“Despite the Chief Inspector’s attempts to reform the inspections system it will continue to fail to be fit for purpose. Despite their proposals it will remain more punitive than supportive and continue to contribute to good teachers deciding to leave teaching.

“I can see no virtue in no-notice inspections. Schools will feel that an inspection visit is the equivalent of Russian roulette, and inspectors could visit when half the school is on a school trip.

“Parents do not want to be involved in triggering early inspections. The low level of complaints indicate that parents are supportive of their children’s schools. To offer such an opportunity will feel to parents like they are being given a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

“Rather than increasing the amount of time on classroom observation, the Chief Inspector should have asked herself why teachers still believe that Oftsed inspections are more about stress and excessive workload than helping schools improve.”