Re your editorial (The Guardian view on Ofsted inspections: not fulfilling their purpose, 24 April), in 1992, Ofsted was set up by statute to assess the quality of education in each school. It was not established primarily or directly to improve schools or the system generally. It aimed to provide impartial, independent, professionally subjective judgments to assist leaders, governors and teachers in evaluating their policies and provision so as to help determine priorities for development. It was for schools to consider the inspection findings and commendations, not to necessarily accept them all.
That original limited but valuable purpose has been forgotten, even corrupted, and overtaken by more grandiose claims. Ofsted is now viewed by its leaders and supporters as providing authoritative, “objective”, incontestable findings and recommendations that have to be acted on. Its detractors contest these claims as unwarranted and overblown. Any reform of the system would do well to recognise the value of the limited purposes set out in the original legislation.
Prof Colin Richards
Former HM inspector of schools, Spark Bridge, Cumbria
• Your editorial says “parents should have a metric for gauging what happens inside a school”. They already do – the opinions and judgment of other parents with children who attend their local schools. A starting point for reform should be to put into effect the practices developed by Prof Tim Brighouse when, as chief education officer in Birmingham and subsequently in charge of the London Challenge school improvement programme, he promoted a local approach. Groups of schools in a local area were encouraged to work together, sharing problems and solutions. The results in the achievement of improved performance and pupil attainment were dramatic in Birmingham and London.
Martin Willis
Malvern, Worcestershire
• It’s rare these days that, as a clinical psychologist with more than 30 years in practice, anything outside of the work sphere really tweaks my clinical interest. But the recent observations from Ofsted’s chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, did make my professional jaw drop (Ofsted chief admits to ‘culture of fear’ around England’s school inspections, 23 April). For the head of Ofsted to be apparently so unaware of the nature of childhood trauma and the serious vulnerabilities that accompany such experience is beyond surprising.
For readers who may not be aware, adverse childhood experiences are much more common than we used to believe, and they have serious and lasting consequences that are made worse by stressful environments. This is stuff that most people who work in education rightly already know something about.
Children do not do well in a stressful environment – Spielman should know that and should be very concerned that the organisation she is leading is, by her own admission, responsible for creating such a culture among teachers in some schools.
Dr Christopher Robinson
Clinical psychologist, High Peak, Derbyshire
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