Education unions are expressing concern over the ongoing distress caused by school inspections conducted by Ofsted, the government’s education regulator. The sister of a headteacher who tragically took her own life after her school was downgraded from outstanding to inadequate during an inspection is calling for deeper reforms of Ofsted. The unions believe that Ofsted operates with a culture of fear and terror, and cannot be trusted to reform itself.
The recent confirmation that Ofsted will no longer use single-word judgments has been welcomed, but the unions feel that more substantial changes are necessary. Headteachers have reported feeling serious distress as a result of inspections, with some experiencing mental health issues and trauma. The unions argue that the current system of accountability must be more humane, proportionate, and fair.
They are calling for a more collaborative and supportive inspection system focused on improvement, rather than a punitive approach. The crisis in recruiting and retaining teachers is also linked to the need for further reform of Ofsted. The unions believe that the idea that a regime of fear and terror can improve standards and outcomes for children is a fantasy.
Overall, the education unions are calling for a complete reset of Ofsted and for the government to make significant changes to ensure that school inspections are conducted in a more supportive and constructive manner.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
