(UK) Should OfSted inspections be changed/suspended?

[~ True Legend ~]

There've been ongoing protests with schools refusing inspections after a headteacher very sadly committed suicide over the pressure of a negative review during a school inspection.

Ruth Perry: Calls made for Ofsted overhaul after head teacher's death

Suffolk Primary Headteachers' Association describes Ofsted as a "Damoclean sword" in an open letter.

www.bbc.co.uk

The family of the Reading head teacher said her death was the "direct result of the pressure" put on her by the outcome of an inspection report.

Suffolk Primary Headteachers' Association (SPHA) also called for an immediate suspension of inspections.

Personally, I don't think the current system is very helpful.

It said the current model for school inspections was "faulty" and called for an end to "one-word judgements".

Currently schools are rated either outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.

Do you think the system should be abolished prior to reforms being put in place?

Geoff Barton, the head of the Association of School and College Leaders, also urged for the overall grading system to be abolished and for head teachers to be told if their school was to be inspected that year or term.

Ofsted should be abolished, teaching union NASUWT agrees

Pressure on the schools watchdog has been growing following the death of head teacher Ruth Perry.

www.bbc.co.uk

The motion passed on Monday acknowledged that the "perceived demands of Ofsted are the major contributor to the excessive workload and bureaucracy that blights the lives of teachers".


Gherie Wedeyesus, a teacher from Brent, said: "Let's put an end to this peddler of misery. Let's end this reign of terror and abolish Ofsted."

Others who spoke at the conference called for Ofsted to be reformed rather than abolished.


An Ofsted spokesperson said: "Inspections are first and foremost for children and their parents - looking in depth at the quality of education, behaviour and how well, and safely, schools are run.

"Our inspectors are all former or current school leaders who fully understand the pressures of the role. We always want inspections to be constructive and collaborative, and in the vast majority of cases school leaders agree that they are."

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "Ofsted has a crucial role to play in upholding education standards and making sure children are safe in school.
"They provide independent, up to date evaluations on the quality of education, safeguarding, and leadership which parents greatly rely on to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child."

 

[Heatman]

I have never been depressed, so it's very difficult for me to understand why someone would have to choose to kill themselves as a result of work pressure. It doesn't make sense to me at all. She's dead now and doesn't her death change anything? I'm completely disappointed whenever someone commits suicide.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

I have never been depressed, so it's very difficult for me to understand why someone would have to choose to kill themselves as a result of work pressure. It doesn't make sense to me at all. She's dead now and doesn't her death change anything? I'm completely disappointed whenever someone commits suicide.

Everyone is impacted by mental health differently. Unfortunately, for some it gets to the point where they have no other choice

 

[Shortie]

The school that my kids go to, and the inspections they get from Ofsted tend to put a lot of pressure on the teacher but it also seems that it's also the case for students. Whenever the school my kids go to has an inspection coming up we get bombarded with letters regarding it, the kids get nagged at for days on end before the inspection due to the pressure.

One thing that does annoy me though is how the teachers and staff in the school soon change their tune when they have an inspection. When there is no inspection they go way too far with how they are with the students but when they do have an inspection, they act a lot differently.

I understand that schools do need to be reviewed and checked to ensure they are providing teaching the way they should be but the Ofsted inspections always seem too much.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

The school that my kids go to, and the inspections they get from Ofsted tend to put a lot of pressure on the teacher but it also seems that it's also the case for students. Whenever the school my kids go to has an inspection coming up we get bombarded with letters regarding it, the kids get nagged at for days on end before the inspection due to the pressure.

One thing that does annoy me though is how the teachers and staff in the school soon change their tune when they have an inspection. When there is no inspection they go way too far with how they are with the students but when they do have an inspection, they act a lot differently.

I understand that schools do need to be reviewed and checked to ensure they are providing teaching the way they should be but the Ofsted inspections always seem too much.

I remember the number of times it was repeated to us that there’d be an upcoming inspection. We didn’t care that much, I bet it affected the teachers more as they feel that’s their jobs on the line

 

[Shortie]

I remember the number of times it was repeated to us that there’d be an upcoming inspection. We didn’t care that much, I bet it affected the teachers more as they feel that’s their jobs on the line

It definitely seems that way. I always remember when we were told in school about inspections and the teachers used to drum into our heads about behavior and how we should act whilst these people were in the school. You always got those kids that did the opposite though and that made it more stressful for the teachers due to that.

That was to be expected though from the children who were known to misbehave.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

It definitely seems that way. I always remember when we were told in school about inspections and the teachers used to drum into our heads about behavior and how we should act whilst these people were in the school.

Yes happened at mine too, haha!!

You always got those kids that did the opposite though and that made it more stressful for the teachers due to that.

That was to be expected though from the children who were known to misbehave.

There were always those kids that just didn't care. Because it doesn't affect them. Loud kids will always be loud, haha. They need strict discipline to shut up from my experience ;p