OFSTED REFORMS CONTINUE TO NOT ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTAL WEAKNESSES
Our responses are in the blogs below including our recent work in publishing an independent post inspection survey report
OFSTED REFORMS DEALT SEVERE BLOW BY PROFESSIONALS AND PARENT
OFSTED REFORMS DEALT SEVERE BLOW BY PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS
Ofsted’s proposed inspection reforms have been dealt a severe body blow by a major survey which shows that just one in ten think they are an improvement on the current arrangements while 62 per cent believed they are worse.
The Alternative Big Consultation (ABC), set up by two former senior HMI, Professor Colin Richards and Frank Norris MBE, largely mirrored Ofsted’s own consultation but asked respondents to say whether they thought the proposed changes were fit for purpose. It also gave respondents the chance to consider alternatives to Ofsted's proposals.
The results reveal the extent to which the education sector, including parents, are opposed to the inspectorate’s new framework with almost nine in ten rating all but three of the 13 reforms unfit, or largely unfit, for purpose. Respondents also made clear their strong desire for more radical reforms to the way Ofsted inspects.
The much vaunted score card, which has been so vociferously backed by the Chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver was similarly dismissed by 88 per cent of respondents who thought it unfit or largely unfit for purpose.
Other Ofsted proposals which were rejected and judged unfit, or largely unfit for purpose included:
- the five point grading scale for reporting inspection findings (90 per cent)
- exemplary practice suggestions (92 per cent)
- the inspection toolkit (85 per cent)
- identifying schools/settings causing concern (85 per cent)
- the changes to how inspections are carried out (89 per cent)
- Changes to monitoring (88 per cent)
The ABC also suggested a range of possible changes to current inspection practice, two of which received near-universal support as essential or worthy of consideration.
97 per cent of those expressing a view supported the proposal that all early years settings, schools and colleges should have access to a fully independent complaints process outside of Ofsted itself. Similarly, 89 per cent of respondents supported annual safeguarding reviews by an agency other than Ofsted.
There was also very considerable support for other possible components of a modified system. 82 per cent believed a system of peer-group review to promote quality assurance within an agreed national framework should be given consideration with 75 per cent agreeing that HMI should play a role in moderating this system.
Professor Colin Richards said: “Professor Colin Richards said: “These findings clearly show that there needs to be a substantial pause to Ofsted’s plans to introduce their changes in inspection practice from the Autumn. Given the lack of support, there is a strong case for a total re-evaluation of inspection policy and practice by a commission independent of both the Department for Education and Ofsted.”
“This should be a wake-up call for the government, let alone for the Chief Inspector. Ofsted’s efforts to rehabilitate itself are faltering. The teaching profession continues to lose faith and confidence in the inspection process.
“There is a major crisis in the offing should the government and Ofsted force its highly problematic proposals on an unwilling, disaffected teaching profession. The quality of education is being put at risk, as is the sector’s patience and resilience.”
Frank Norris said: “These new inspection proposals followed the tragic death of Ruth Perry, headteacher of Caversham Primary School, and the subsequent Gilbert Learning Review which clearly stated that Ofsted needed to change to improve the inspectorate’s culture and work.
“However, Ofsted decided to concentrate on revisions to inspection policy and practice and we have a genuine fear that without fundamental change yet another school leader could take their own life.
“We believe the vast majority of the respondents to our alternative consultation will have completed Ofsted’s survey as well and shared the same forthright responses.
“Therefore, we urge Ofsted to take very seriously the findings of the ABC and to take due account of the opinions expressed in its own consultation. It is clear from our findings that very fundamental changes are needed to the current inspection model to satisfy the legitimate expectations of both parents and the teaching profession.”
More than 700 leaders, teachers, governors and parents/carers across early years settings, schools and colleges completed the Alternative Big Consultation. There was little discernible difference in dissatisfaction levels to Ofsted's proposals across the various sectors and settings and between the different groups and individuals who responded.
About The Alternative Big Consultation
PRESS AND MEDIA CONTACT
The Alternative Big Consultation is fortunate to have the voluntary services of Dave Smith. He manages all of our press and media work and is the colleague to make contact with
His details are
Dave Smith
M: 07702 152771
About The Alternative Big Consultation
How it all began
When we created The Alternative Big Listen in March 2024 we did so because when we completed Ofsted’s Big Listen we became aware that a number of issues were not directly included. For example, the Big Listen did not ask whether single word judgements should be abolished, did not ask whether Ofsted was fit for purpose, whether respondents believed inspections were carried out in a way that was consistent from place to place, whether schools judged as Good or Outstanding gave an accurate indication of the school’s overall quality and whether a moratorium on routine inspections should occur until a fundamental review had taken place.
We were delighted that nearly 1500 respondents made their views known through The Alternative Big Listen. We were sadly not surprised at the findings.
Very high percentages of respondents were dissatisfied with Ofsted
· 91% believed Ofsted was not fit for purpose
· 91% felt Ofsted should not use one or two word judgements for a school’s overall effectiveness
· 89% stated that Ofsted did not sufficiently consider the context of the school’s area in the judgements they make
· 90% believed inspections are not carried out in a way that is consistent from place to place
· 85% disagreed that the number of schools graded Good or Outstanding gave a strong indication of the overall quality of the schools’ system.
· 83% believed that there should be a moratorium on routine inspections (but not all) until a fundamental review has taken place
When Ofsted published the findings of the Big Listen in July 2024, it confirmed many of the weaknesses highlighted in The Alternative Big Listen but significantly it did not reveal the proportion of all responses, so it was rather selective in its approach. This was in complete contrast to The Alternative Big Listen.
Ofsted also published the findings of the Gilbert Learning Review which it commissioned in April 2024. The Gilbert Review made 14 recommendations. Ofsted fully accepted 11 of them. Her review explained how the tragic events surrounding Ruth Perry’s death ‘shone a light on a climate of fear and frustration around school inspection, which had been building for years. This climate had the consequence of weakening trust in Ofsted, which was increasingly seen by many as defensive and unwilling to respond constructively to criticism. It also had an impact on leader and staff well-being in schools and thereby contributed to the recruitment and retention crisis evident across the sector.’ The Education Select Committee also produced a highly critical report in January 2024 which indicated ‘that Ofsted has lost trust and credibility among many in the teaching profession’.
All of these events led those involved in receiving and delivering Ofsted inspections to believe that a radical review of its approaches would become clear when it published its proposals for a new inspection framework, including the soon to be introduced Report Cards. On 3 February 2025, Ofsted announced a 12 week consultation on its proposals. It is fair to say that these have not been universally welcomed.
When we established The Alternative Big Listen we did so because we were not confident Ofsted would report without fear or favour and would most likely try to obfuscate and show themselves off in the best possible light. We believe our suspicion was justified. This is why we have decided to create a survey that will run alongside the one created by the inspectorate. The Alternative Big Consultation will ask the same questions but will also ask whether Ofsted is fit for purpose.
We are disappointed that Ofsted has presented just one model of inspection and with a tight deadline it feels to us that it is a ‘take it or leave it’ strategy. Our survey will allow respondents to consider alternatives which we will share in our final report but will make clear that a final decision needs to be made by the inspectorate. We do not believe the inspectorate has sought alternatives drawn from other countries or from within the UK. If they have, they have been poor in sharing this work and explaining why it deemed these approaches to be inappropriate for England.
As advocates for inspection, we want to be constructive and believe it is possible to have rigour and robust evaluation of public services while maintaining high levels of respect, appreciation and understanding. We had hoped to see a more collaborative and less confrontational approach being proposed to redress the balance of power/control which currently rests far too heavily with Ofsted.
There are many ways to inspect, and we want to show that it is possible to create a system better fit for purpose. However, this will take a little while and we will need the help of those who inspect and those who are inspected. We will continue our pursuit of a fairer, more trustworthy and respected inspection process.
We encourage everyone to engage with Ofsted’s survey which can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-way-ofsted-inspects-education/improving-the-way-ofsted-inspects-education-consultation-document
The closing date for the Alternative Big Consultation was 4th April 2025
Survey Administrators
Frank Norris
Frank Norris was a Headteacher in Trafford and Cheshire. He was appointed HMI in 2001 and in 2004, led the introduction of HMI as front-line school inspectors and developed detailed grade descriptors to support more consistent judgement-making. In 2005 he was a key figure in the introduction of short inspections and the development of the online self-evaluation form.
He was appointed as a senior Ofsted manager responsible for local authority inspections and in 2009, was promoted to Divisional Manager for Education and Care leading the development of the two school inspection frameworks that were introduced in 2012. He was appointed senior school improvement adviser for Stockport MBC in September 2012. In 2013 he became the Coop Group's Education Director and in 2014 was appointed CEO of the Co-op Academies Trust. In September 2019, Frank stood down from the CEO role and became the Co-op’s adviser on education and school matters. He was awarded an MBE in the summer of 2019 for his services to education. He was the Northern Powerhouse Partnership's adviser on education and skills between 2019 and 2025. He is currently a trustee and chair of finance at the Great Academies and Education Trust and Vice Chair of the Liverpool Education Board. He was the independent chair of the Blackpool Education Improvement Board between 2020 and 2004 and chair of the Priority Education Investment Area Board up to November 2023. He is on the advisory Board of InnovateHer, a not-for-profit organisation committed to ensuring more women play an active and senior role in digital and tech companies. in their communities and beyond.
Colin Richards
Since resigning from Ofsted after a very public dispute with its chief inspector, Colin Richards has been Honorary Professor at the University of Warwick, Visiting Professor at the Universities of Leicester and Newcastle and is currently Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Cumbria.
Following a career in primary and university teacher education he was the first person to be seconded to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate in 1980. From 1983 to 1996 as an HMI he specialised in primary education and teacher education and held the post of Staff Inspector (Curriculum 5-16) followed by that of Staff Inspector (Primary Education) and Ofsted’s Specialist Adviser for Primary Education.
Since leaving Ofsted he has maintained a keen but critical interest in the issues of standards, primary and secondary education, the school curriculum, governance and inspection.. He has been chair of governors of a Cumbrian secondary school which has voted twice not to seek academy status and he has been a National Leader of Governance. He is also a member of the New Visions in Education Group and tweets as @colinsparkbridg
As a critic of much (though not all) of past and present government education policy he is a frequent contributor to the national press (in particular to the Guardian, the Observer, the Independent, the New Statesman, the Times Educational Supplement and Schools Week). He treasures the epithet “an old-fashioned HMI” bestowed on him by a former chief inspector of schools who meant it as a damning criticism!