Does Ofsted Enhance Colleges? Views From Inside …
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Is Ofsted serving to or hindering faculty enchancment?
This new analysis sheds mild on what Ofsted eleven former inspectors actually assume of the present inspection course of.
In “Ofsted from Inside: Inspectors’ Views on Challenges and Future Course” (Tian and Diamond, 2024), many inspectors counsel the system has grown too targeted on performative compliance fairly than supporting colleges of their progress.
Former HMI inspectors name for a extra balanced system, one which genuinely helps enchancment and collaboration fairly than compliance. They argue for an inspection course of that higher balances accountability with a collaborative method, so colleges can deal with instructing and studying, fairly than tick packing containers.
The analysis argues that “many inspectors, appearing as OfSTED’s messengers, are constrained by the prescriptive inspection framework.”
What do inspectors assume?
Many lecturers know that Ofsted inspections deliver intense scrutiny and infrequently reshape how colleges function, however what do inspectors themselves consider these processes?
On this research, inspectors categorical issues that present strategies have turn out to be extra about compliance and box-ticking than real enchancment. Gaining perception into inspectors’ views is essential as a result of they’re key actors within the inspection course of and form how colleges and lecturers really feel about accountability.
The research highlights that, because the inspection tradition has shifted in direction of a performative method, many colleges now function defensively, prioritising what seems good on paper over actual improvement.
What do inspectors say?
I’ve pulled out some quotes from inspectors on a spread of subjects. Here’s what they are saying:
- OfSTED appeared to arrange its personal analysis machine. After which choose what supported the Chief Inspector’s arguments.
- The distinction between the predecessor framework and the 2019 framework was that OfSTED started to have a most well-liked model in sure areas.
- We’ve received examples of inspectors going into particular colleges and saying, ‘why aren’t they reaching within the phonics verify?’. Properly, as a result of they’re nonverbal!
- And I do know colleges have dropped vocational programs due to this goal to get extra pupils doing E-Bacc. All the humanities and inventive topics have been seen as second-class topics!
- Cognitive science and the sequencing of curriculum. And I believe it (EIF) genuinely has overlooked kids.
Credit score: Tian and Diamond, 2024
Reflection questions for lecturers to think about
- How usually does the inspection course of in your faculty really feel supportive fairly than performative?
- What are the most important challenges your faculty faces in assembly Ofsted requirements?
- Do inspectors absolutely perceive your faculty’s distinctive context throughout evaluations?
- How are you going to empower employees to spotlight the varsity’s strengths to inspectors?
- What steps may Ofsted take to help your faculty’s objectives extra successfully?
- What can leaders do to encourage a optimistic tradition round inspections?
- How does your faculty implement areas for enchancment after inspections?
- Might peer opinions assist put together for or alleviate inspection pressures?
- What advantages would possibly a extra open dialogue with inspectors deliver?
- Might inspection stress be affecting scholar and trainer efficiency? How can this be addressed?
Within the analysis, there’s one remark which stands out for me:
Something can transfer on, however single-word judgements need to be tackled first. The hyperlink now between inspection grades and fairly crude measures about what occurs to colleges is getting in the best way of the entire function of inspection.
Obtain the full paper to be taught extra about these findings.
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