According to an inquiry, Ofsted inspectors should not be present in classrooms, and the entire system requires "a significant overhaul."
The Beyond Ofsted inquiry, which was financed by the National Education Union and presided over by former schools minister Lord Jim Knight, recommended a "transformational" change to school inspections. In lieu of this, the inquiry suggested that schools be held accountable for their own reform strategies.
Inspections are necessary to guarantee a high-quality education, according to Ofsted.
A spokesperson mentioned that children only have one opportunity at education and inspection ensures that high standards are maintained for all children. However, according to the inquiry conducted by Lord Knight, Ofsted was deemed "corrosive" and "ill-suited for purpose" and required significant reform.
The suicide of head teacher Ruth Perry earlier this year sparked a discussion regarding the operational procedures of Ofsted and brought to light the pressure that inspections can place on schools.
The inquiry suggested that Ofsted, the English education inspectorate, cease all "direct contact" with schools it also suggested that schools develop their own improvement plans in order to ensure accountability to parents and the broader local community.
This would require Ofsted to assess the management quality of individual schools or clusters of schools.
Educational institutions conduct internal "self-evaluations" in collaboration with an external "improvement partner" who is an accomplished school leader from the school's trust or local authority, including serving directors.
This partner would be responsible for generating a performance review. That would effectively terminate the existing system of assigning single-word evaluations, ranging from "exemplary" to "insufficient."
According to the inquiry, safeguarding in schools should also be evaluated annually through distinct audits that are supervised by a new national body.
An investigation conducted by scholars affiliated with University College London examined various reform alternatives through the utilisation of research materials, focus groups, surveys, and international comparisons.
Ofsted, according to Lord Knight's report, has become "under-resourced" in light of the "high-stakes job" that is anticipated of it. He stated that inspections had shifted from "snapshot assessments by fewer than a handful of inspectors" to "weeklong deep dives by expert teams."
According to the report, Ofsted should suspend its current routine inspections pending the implementation of the inquiry's recommendations.
Lord Knight, in response to the report, stated that the evidence is unambiguous. Ofsted has eroded the confidence of parents and the teaching profession as a whole. An opportunity for transformative change has emerged at this time.
According to an Ofsted spokesperson, nine out of ten schools claim that inspections aid in their progress.
They said that they do everything in their power to make sure that inspections are beneficial learning opportunities for school staff. Because everyone of our inspectors is either now serving as a school administrator or has served in that capacity in the past, they have an in-depth understanding of the responsibilities and intricacies associated with the role.
They went on to say that Ofsted gives parents the peace of mind that their children are being protected and given the high-quality education that they are entitled to by carrying out routine, independent inspections of each and every school in the country.
