Ofsted has agreed to gather more feedback from school leaders on inspections\u2019 impact on their wellbeing, as part of a deal with heads that will see a new \u201cindependent advisory group\u201d launched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unions have repeatedly warned Ofsted\u2019s new education inspection framework (EIF)<\/a>, which assesses schools across more areas than before, means more pressure on leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The National Association of Head Teachers<\/a> had been mulling industrial action over Ofsted\u2019s five-point grading scale, after its application for a judicial review was thrown out by the High Court last year. The EIF was launched in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Schools Week <\/em>understands the agreements reached with Ofsted this week have put plans for further action on ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The inspectorate will add further questions on wellbeing to its existing survey of leaders about the new framework. The questions are still being drawn up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The data, collected from a representative sample of schools, will then be scrutinised by an advisory group set up by the NAHT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ofsted and the Department for Education have agreed to be permanent members. Representatives are also expected from school leaders\u2019 union ASCL and the Confederation of School Trusts (CST).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The chair will be Sin\u00e9ad Mc Brearty, chief executive of charity Education Support and author of a damning independent wellbeing assessment of Ofsted\u2019s reform plans, issued last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They will review new data and \u201cidentify actions that could further support mental health and wellbeing before, during, and after inspection\u201d, the NAHT said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They will also consider support schools receive post-inspection through the government\u2019s RISE school improvement programme, and how this affects leaders\u2019 wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ofsted\u2019s chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has painted a positive picture of feedback on new inspections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking at the Sixth Form Colleges Association\u2019s AGM yesterday, he said feedback \u201cpaints an encouraging picture of a process that is, in the words of those who have experienced it, \u2018not softer, not easier, but fairer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe hear a great deal about the tone of inspections now being more positive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: \u201cIt is crucial that we have independent data that gives clear and honest feedback from leaders who have experienced inspection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said NAHT \u201clook[s] forward to working with Ofsted and DfE officials\u201d to \u201censure that school leader wellbeing is being prioritised and action taken to support and protect them\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steve Rollett, CST deputy chief executive, also welcomed Ofsted\u2019s and DfE\u2019s commitment to \u201cworking with the sector to understand the impact of inspection and RISE support on leaders\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, ASCL is concerned the new regime puts \u201ca huge amount of stress on school and college leaders and their staff\u201d, according to general secretary Pepe Di\u2019Iasio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is \u201cdamaging wellbeing and deterring the next generation\u201d of staff, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s vital that we work together across the profession to look at ways we can improve the inspection process, and the health and wellbeing of everybody involved must be at the forefront.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Improved leader and teacher wellbeing was supposed to be a focus of Ofsted\u2019s reforms, drawn up following the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Mc Brearty\u2019s independent wellbeing report last year warned new report cards spell more anxiety for leaders with already \u201cconcerningly high\u201d stress levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leader anxiety and stress will \u201cin many (though not all) cases, spillover and increase pressure on staff teams to perform well in inspection\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaders who have been through new-style inspections have also expressed concerns <\/a>the new framework \u2013 which sees schools graded on a five-point scale across a minimum of six evaluation areas \u2013 does not reduce pressure<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oliver said the inspectorate was \u201ckeen to gather independent data so we can see where any improvements can be made\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat improvement\u202fworks best when\u202finspectors\u202fand\u202fschool\u202fleaders are all pushing in the same direction,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want to hear feedback, make improvements and\u202fwork together to\u202fsecure a better future for\u202fchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ofsted wants to ensure success by \u201craising standards for children, providing new-look report cards for parents and being fairer to professionals\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The inspectorate already collects leaders\u2019 views through post-inspection surveys. It uses this to give \u201cfirst-hand feedback\u201d to inspectors and their managers, and publicly publishes a summary of responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But analysis has previously shown schools awarded higher grades are typically more likely to take part in the surveys, and to be positive about their inspection experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ofsted will continue to run these surveys.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Deal with headteachers will broaden new framework feedback and establish union-led ‘independent advisory group’ to scrutinise data<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":314902,"featured_media":241318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[25],"post-theme":[2378],"class_list":["post-241326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-ofsted","post-theme-ofsted"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tNew advisory group planned<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Martyn Oliver: Tone of inspections \u2018more positive\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Leaders report heightened stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ofsted \u2018keen to gather independent data\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n