Stopping or stopping college inspections wouldn’t be in “children’s best interests”, Ofsted has mentioned.
It follows calls from lecturers and college leaders to halt inspections following the dying of head trainer Ruth Perry, who killed herself in January whereas awaiting an Ofsted report that downgraded her college, Caversham Primary in Reading, from excellent to insufficient because of “safeguarding” points.
A petition calling for an inquiry into the inspection of Caversham Primary School has greater than 110,000 signatures.
But Ofsted’s chief inspector Amanda Spielman mentioned “inspection plays an important part,” in sustaining requirements in training because it seems at “what children are being taught”, assesses “behaviour” and “checks that teachers know what to do if children are being abused or harmed… it’s important for that work to continue”.
Ms Spielman had included a tribute to Ms Perry saying her “death was met with great sadness at Ofsted” and that an “outpouring of grief and anger from many people in education” was comprehensible – however declined to halt inspections.
However, Paul Whiteman, of the National Federation of Head Teachers’ Associations (NAHT), mentioned the choice to not pause inspections “even for a short period, was a terrible mistake”.
“It only serves to reinforce the view that Ofsted is tin-eared and shows scant regard for the wellbeing of school leaders.”
He added that the union was “not against inspection” however as an alternative can be for a “fairer, more humane approach” which they consider mother and father would help.
The National Education Union mentioned changing Ofsted with a brand new company “would be good for children”.
Deputy General Secretary Niamh Sweeney mentioned: “What is not in children’s best interests is head teacher burnout and beloved class teachers leaving. What is not in children’s interests is ploughing on with a pretence that this is the only approach to inspecting schools.”
Schools have been eradicating logos and references to Ofsted scores from their web sites as a mark of solidarity with Ms Perry and heads mentioned they plan to stage peaceable protests – together with sporting black clothes and armbands and displaying pictures of Ms Perry across the college – when Ofsted inspections happen.
Ofsted mentioned that adjustments to the present system must meet parental and governmental standards.
Source: information.sky.com”