Thank you for contacting me about Ofsted inspections.
Since September 2019, Ofsted has been using a new inspection framework. This covers maintained schools, academies, non-association independent schools, further education and skills provision and registered early years settings in England. The new framework aims to rebalance inspections to ensure pupils are being taught a broad and rich curriculum. Rather than taking exam results and test data at face value, the new framework also considers the way in which those results were achieved.
By shifting the emphasis away from performance data alone, schools are now incentivised to put the pupil first and discourage negative practices such as off-rolling. I am pleased that there is now a separate judgement on pupil behaviour and attitudes, which considers how safe, calm, orderly and positive the school environment is. A further additional judgement evaluates the quality of schools’ provision for pupils’ personal development, including supporting character development, building resilience and confidence, as well as the delivery of careers advice.
The framework also puts more focus on special educational needs and disabilities, and rewards schools for their work with pupils who need extra support. In addition, the framework evaluates the extent to which leaders take into account the workload and well-being of their staff, while also developing and strengthening the quality of their workforce.
The Department for Education has published guidance on the conduct of inspectors and Ofsted's expectations of providers during inspection or wider regulatory activity. When inspectors are carrying out inspections or visits, the lead inspector will explain the expectations set out in this guidance and will ask providers to read it. They will make providers aware that they should raise any concerns that the inspection team has not acted in accordance with the code as soon as possible. This is in order to resolve issues before the inspection or visit is completed, where possible. At appropriate points, inspectors will confirm with providers that they have provided or given access to all relevant evidence.
I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Ruth Perry. I know that the Department for Education is continuing to provide support to Caversham Primary School at this difficult time. I note that concerns have been raised over the pressure that inspections bring to schools, but inspections are hugely important. They hold schools to account for their educational standards and parents greatly rely on the ratings to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.