IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3March 2003

OFSTED report on Governments Key Stage 3 strategy NUTreaction

Commenting on OFSTEDs report onimplementation of the Government strategy for Key Stage 3, John Bangs, head ofthe NUTs education department said:

The Government wants instant results fromits Key Stage 3 strategy when all the findings from OFSTED show that largescale reform needs time. OFSTED is right to emphasise again that it is theGovernments ridiculous targets which can undermine necessary professionaldevelopment.

The lesson the Government should take onboard is that teachers must be involved in developing their training toimplement reforms and have the time and opportunity to benefit from it. Withoutthat, the impact of the strategy will be patchy as OFSTED has found.

E N D PR.18/03