Ofsted has reacted to calls for an overhaul in the wake of headteacher Ruth Perry's death.
The education watchdog has been under fire after the head's family claim she took her own life as a 'direct result of pressure' she was under due to an inspection at her school.
Her sister Professor Julia Waters said inspectors claimed a boy doing a 'floss' dance move, from the video game Fortnite, was evidence of the sexualisation of children at Caversham Primary School in Reading and that the 53-year-old took her own life waiting for a negative report.
The tragedy has sparked an outcry across the profession, with the National Education Union; school leaders' union NAHT; and the Association of School and College Leaders calling for inspections to be halted and one headteacher threatening to refuse access to inspectors who called earlier this week.
On Wednesday we shared concerns from teachers in Manchester, who say drastic change is needed to prevent this happening again.
After being inundated with stories from fellow teachers and headteachers about what they called a 'toxic inspection process', teacher Lee Parkinson is using his ICT with Mr P Facebook and Instagram forums to campaign 'in Ruth's memory'.
He said: "I think it's clear by most, if not all, people in education is that Ofsted in its current form is not a force for good in education, whether directly or indirectly, they are up there as one of the main reasons why education is in such a rut at the minute with the recruitment, retention, workload, well-being issues that plague our profession."
Today, Friday, Ofsted has responded to the criticism for the first time.
In a statement, chief inspector Amanda Spielman says 'Ruth Perry’s death was a tragedy' and offered condolences to her family, friends and the school, saying 'I am deeply sorry for their loss'.
Ahead of the coroner’s inquest, she says 'it would not be right to say too much', but added that the news 'was met with great sadness at Ofsted'.
"We know that inspections can be challenging and we always aim to carry them out with sensitivity as well as professionalism," she said. "Our school inspectors are all former or serving school leaders. They understand the vital work headteachers do, and the pressures they are under. For so many colleagues, this was profoundly upsetting news to hear."
And while she acknowledged the 'outpouring of grief and anger from many people in education', she stressed it would not be right to stop school inspections from taking place.
"I don’t believe that stopping or preventing inspections would be in children’s best interests," said Ms Spielman. "Our aim is to raise standards, so that all children get a great education. It is an aim we share with every teacher in every school.
"Inspection plays an important part. Among other things, it looks at what children are being taught, assesses how well behaviour is being taught and managed, and checks that teachers know what to do if children are being abused or harmed. We help parents understand how their child’s school is doing and we help schools understand their strengths and areas for improvement. It’s important for that work to continue."
She believes that while 'the broader debate about reforming inspections to remove grades is a legitimate one', but says 'it shouldn’t lose sight of how grades are currently used'.
"They give parents a simple and accessible summary of a school’s strengths and weaknesses," she said. "They are also now used to guide government decisions about when to intervene in struggling schools. Any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs both of parents and of government.
"The right and proper outcome of Ofsted’s work is a better education system for our children. To that end, we aim to do good as we go - and to make inspections as collaborative and constructive as we can.
"We will keep our focus on how inspections feel for school staff and on how we can further improve the way we work with schools. I am always pleased when we hear from schools that their inspection ‘felt done with, not done to’. That is the kind of feedback I want to hear in every case.
"As teachers, school leaders and inspectors, we all work together in the best interests of children – and I’m sure that principle will frame all discussions about the future of inspection."
After sharing news of Ruth's death, Mr Parkinson, who teaches at Davyhulme Primary School in Trafford, was inundated with reports from teachers and heads about their own Ofsted experiences.
He decided to set up a form on which teachers can share their experiences anonymously and has so far received more than 2,300 reports, most of them critical of the inspection process.
Many have accused Ofsted of creating a culture that's 'nothing short of toxic'; claim leaders are working under 'enormous amounts of pressure'; and that the 'broken' system 'needs to be abolished'.
Like many teachers, he feels Ofsted grades should be scrapped altogether as there's no reason for any school 'to be defined by a word or two words'.
Reacting to Ofsted's statement, Mr Parkinson said: "As I’ve already said, no teacher is trying to stop teachers being accountable, it is part of our job. But Ofsted in its current form is not carried out consistently the way it is portrayed by Spielman as set out in her response.
"Ultimately, who is checking that Ofsted are actually carrying out inspections the way they should be? Who do they answer to? Who is ensuring it’s collaborative and supportive the way she makes out, as the form responses suggest very different."
He added: "The idea of getting rid of grades wouldn’t stop helping parents because parents would quite happily look at a short summary of strengths and areas for improvement and get a feel of a school from that.
"The vast majority of parents I’ve seen discuss the issue, see the flaws with Ofsted and I’m sure would welcome a change just like school staff to ensure the best possible education for all children. I believe the NEU have submitted a petition to overhaul Ofsted which has well over 50,000 signatures from staff and parents alike."
Do you work in education and would like to see Ofsted overhauled? Are you a parent who feels Ofsted grades are necessary, or would you rather they were scrapped? Let us know in the comments.
READ NEXT:
When the mother of all childcare promises is 'one for the mums', it proves things need to change
'We need help now' say parents as free childcare plan delayed until 2025
-
M&S launches Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar giant chocolate faces for Easter
'My Asda Just Essentials big shop shows just how much the budget range has gone up'
- Shoppers slam 'ridiculous' Aldi bag checks as retailer clamps down on shoplifting
