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Wednesday, 23 July 2003

House of Commons, Education and Skills Committee The Work of OFSTED

Commenting on thereport by the Education and Skills Committee on the work of OFSTED, DougMcAvoy, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said:

The Select Committeeis right to highlight the absurdity of bland judgements made of schools such assatisfactory.

David Bell has gone along way to enhancing OFSTEDs image but it needs to now take that vital stepof showing that OFSTED supports not condemns schools.

The schools fundingcrisis has had a further damaging effect not highlighted by Government. Local Authorities have spent more money onspecial needs and behaviour units because schools have needed it and the Governmentasked them to. Now it wants to slashspending on this area to pay for its mistakes.The Select Committee should have highlighted this.

E ND S pr.58/03

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