Policy Exchange report urges Ofsted to reform ways to assess schools

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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A centre-right think-tank Policy Exchange has urged the education watchdog Ofsted to reforms its ways to assess the academies and free schools by reducing the reliance over the outsourced inspectors from private companies.

The report by the think-tank, founded by Education Secretary Michael Gove has mentioned that many Ofsted inspectors lack the necessary skills to make fair judgements regarding the quality of schools. Moreover, many inspectors are on part-time employment by the private companies and are required to get an experience of primary teaching and special needs training.

The report has come at a time when Mr Gove has intensely criticised the role of Ofsted in conducting school inspections.

Jonathan Simons, the author of report has told the quality of schools is critical to the future prospects of the country.

Mr Simons has explained: “That is why we need an independent schools regulator that inspects all schools freely and fairly. But it is also why we must make sure that the school inspection regime is fit for purpose.”

The report has also recommended conducting a systematic two-stage inspection of the schools. In The process would allow all state schools to go through a “short inspection”, lasting one day, every two years. A second “tailored inspection” would be carried out on schools that will fail to obtain a good or outstanding grade in the prescribed criteria to assess quality.

In response of the report, Ofsted’s national director for schools, Michael Cladingbowl has defended the practice of classroom observations and assessment.

Mr Cladingbowl has said: “In my view, parents will always expect inspectors to spend time in classrooms when they visit a school because teaching is the heart of what schools do. While we do not judge individual teachers, visiting lessons is a key way of gathering evidence about the quality of teaching in the school overall.”

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