Memorandum submitted by National Primary
Heads
1. NPH are totally committed to the public
accountability of primary schools and the need to demonstrate
their success in educating the children of their school community.
2. NPH oppose the current ineffective
approach of OFSTED and will actively campaign to replace it with
a fairer, more balanced and cost effective means of ensuring the
efficient and compassionate running of our schools.
3. NPH support the findings of the OECD
report, in May 2008, which stated that preparing for inspections
created unnecessary paperwork and distraction and should be replaced
with more systematic self evaluation and less of the one off snapshots
which an OFSTED inspection provides.
4. NPH share the concerns expressed in
the report about "naming and shaming" schools which
often leads to a "vicious" downward spiral.
5. NPH support the Every Child
Matters agenda and would wish to explore the potential of a
rounded assessment of a school performance including, of course,
children's progress. We would wish to explore in more detail
some of the current limiting factors for an inspection outcome.
In particular the new definition of the balance between achievement,
progress and standards. We would wish to explore how they will
ensure a potentially outstanding outcome for all schools in all
settings.
6. NPH support
Safeguarding being within the remit of the Local Safeguarding
Board and an ongoing part of the School Improvement Partners'
regular visits. This would ensure greater local accountability
and more frequent and relevant monitoring of this vital area.
7. NPH support
the reporting to parents and carers of the overall progress of
each child annually.
8. NPH support the enhancement of Her
Majesty's Inspectorate to provide greater professional consistency
in terms of inspection, support and analysis of schools.
9. NPH support a National standard and
Quality Assurance programme for the appointment of the School
Improvement Partner. This should be regularly, externally moderated
by central Government to ensure consistency.
10. NPH support exploring the
publication of a summary of the appropriate sections of our School
Improvement Partners' Annual report to help parents receive a
rounded, consistent view of their local school's progress.
11. NPH
support self evaluation which is rigorous. We welcome the removal
of the over burdensome and bureaucratic SEF form currently expected.
12. NPH
are committed to promoting the Primary voice and ensuring that
our children and communities are fairly represented at every level
of decision making. We want to work with our politicians and
decision makers to ensure an improved system of accountability.
October 2010
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