The role and performance of Ofsted

Memorandum submitted by Sheelagh Webster

I wish to submit the following based on my personal experiences of Ofsted as a Primary School Headteacher for thirteen years, a Primary School governor for three years and an ITT visiting tutor for four years.

1. The purposes of Ofsted should be to:-

1.1 Provide all interested parties with an assurance of quality based on detailed examination and analysis of performance, particularly in relation to self evaluation

1.2 Provide an independent, external view of a school’s performance and the National picture

1.3 Support schools in the improvement process through dialogue, comparative data and examples of good practice

1.4 Endorse/challenge schools’ self evaluation process

1.5 Ensure standards are maintained

2. The impact of Ofsted on school improvement should be to:-

2.1 Enable schools to build on success and address areas requiring improvement

2.2 Energise though endorsement and redirection

3. The performance of Ofsted should be to:-

3.1 Be non threatening and supportive by offering a consultancy/advisory service

3.2 Work with Local Authorities to support them in their monitoring role

3.3 Work alongside the senior management teams in all aspects of the process

3.4 Provide greater support and follow up work with schools identified as having significant weaknesses i.e. less condemnation, more support

3.5 Listen to the views of all stakeholders and staff

3.6 In order to achieve these aims Ofsted should reconsider its role and rename its process as a "Review" or "Evaluation" rather than inspection. It needs to gain the trust of educators and work in partnership with them.

4. The consistency and quality of teams carrying out their role should be achieved by:-

4.1 Requesting detailed feedback related to each aspect of the process and an opportunity provided to discuss this with a central department collating the evidence/ratings

4.2 Shadowing teams at least once per year

4.3 Providing rigorous and regular training for team members

4.4 Providing detailed guidance

4.5 Providing a robust "Complaints" procedure

4.6 Providing a framework that remains fixed

5. The weight given to different factors within the process should:-

5.1 Relate to the quality of educational provision in terms of teaching and learning through core and foundation subjects as well as enrichment programmes

5.2 Take account of achievement in its broadest sense across all areas of learning and experiences

5.3 Not give undue weight to safeguarding

6. Should there be a single inspectorate of all organisations, settings, and services to support children’s learning and welfare?

6.1 Ofsted should investigate the work of all settings and organisations that are involved in the educational process for comparison purposes but not those whose primary purpose is not educational.

7. The role of Ofsted in providing an accountability mechanism for schools with greater autonomy should be:-

7.1 Exactly the same as that for all other schools in order to achieve its purpose in relation to the education of all children and to provide a representative National picture.

September 2010