A belated happy new year – I hope you all managed to have some rest at the end of last year, and like me, are fully refreshed for this new term.
Already this term, I have been at conferences across the country meeting our Ofsted Inspectors and Her Majesty’s Inspectors. We reflected on the first term of inspections under the new framework and how the new ways of working were bedding in. As I said on Twitter, my main message to all our inspectors was “Don't stop thinking like a good teacher or leader – remember what's practically possible”.
Videos on inspection
In a similar vein, we’re continuing to dispel myths about what our inspectors 'expect' to see or read when they visit a school, as set out in our clarifications document Ofsted inspection: myths.
It’s really important that people understand what our inspectors do and don't look at, or expect, when we inspect. So from today, we’re publishing a series of videos featuring our Regional Director for London, Mike Sheridan and our Deputy Director for Schools, Joanna Hall. The short films tackle specific myths around marking and pupil feedback, lesson planning, grading and observation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYCrUIv5Ps0
By enabling leaders and teachers to have a better understanding of how inspections work, we aim to help inspection improve your work, not be a burden. If teachers are told that the reason for doing something is 'because Ofsted wants it’, we want to be even clearer on whether that is the case or not – invariably it will not!
https://youtu.be/6TVc0VRoRQM
Tell us what you'd like to know
Finally, it’s now been six months since we started this blog, and it’s great to see that the number of people reading our posts is increasing month by month. I’d welcome your thoughts and suggestions in the comments box on what other topics or issues you’d like us to cover or clarify through this blog in the future.
Share widely
Please share the links to this blog, the Ofsted myths document, and the videos with your colleagues and other contacts, adding #OfstedMyths.
https://youtu.be/xlpPsuLH-y0
You can also keep up to date by signing up for email alerts from this blog, and follow Sean on Twitter and Ofsted on Twitter.
24 comments
Comment by Stephen posted on
The timescales for inspections seem a long way out. I thought schools who were judged good at their last inspection could expect a short inspection at around the three year mark. This is clearly not happening? I understand that scheduling involves a risk assessment and if things seem fine the inspection may be put back, but for how long? Some real clarity about this would be appreciated!
It's very encouraging to hear some of the messages about inspection from Sean Harford, let's hope the HMIs and inspectors embrace this and the process is more productive for schools.
Comment by Andrew posted on
The videos are private... must be something secretive !!!!
Comment by Tina Wilkinson posted on
How can I feel refreshed and get rest when I've had Ofsted looming for over 12 months? Do you know what it's like to be told you are RI, 'doing well' after 12 weeks and then completely ignored for 2 years? What you want from me as a leader of learning changes at least once a term. At least I have the children and staff to keep me going.
Comment by John Bald posted on
The real myth? That inspectors are competent to do their work.
Comment by richard leeming-mchale posted on
I do remember the good old days when OFSTED was of value. My first OFSTED in 1995 was resulted in informative, encouraging and useful suggestions on way to improve, and back up help to allow this to happen. The school did improve, and we felt grateful to OFSTED. So what went wrong? Where, when and why did it all change?
Comment by Claire posted on
Please could you tell me the time span for a school that was last graded as RI (in March 2014)?
Thanks.
Comment by Ofsted external relations posted on
Andrew - Hope you got our direct message with correct links. Apologies - We also noticed that technical glitch when we first published the films and that was resolved straightaway.
Comment by Ofsted external relations posted on
Stephen, Tina, Claire: Thanks for your questions/comments. We'll be posting our next blog shortly to respond to speculation around inspection time spans.
Comment by Christopher Robertson posted on
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission will start to inspect Local Area Special Educational Needs and Disability provision from May 1016. I attended a consultation event on the draft inspection proposals and commented on these via the online consultation (closed 4 January 2016)
I have read that consultation feedback will be shared through face-to-face seminars this spring. Will a summary of feedback also be published, and if so, when can we expect to be able to access this?
Comment by Ofsted external relations posted on
Christopher - We are aiming to publish the consultation report in early March.
Comment by Christopher Robertson posted on
Many thanks
Christopher
Comment by Christopher Robertson posted on
After a prolonged period of time (well over a decade), during which inspectors (Ofsted) have used a range of different terms when reporting on special educational needs, disability and/or learning difficulties, additional needs etc. (in school/setting inspection reports, thematic survey reports), I note that inspectors have now been told to be consistent.
Guidance given to school inspectors recently states:
DSEN or SEND?*
Please note, when reporting on pupils who have a disability or have special educational needs, we should use the terminology ‘special educational needs and disabilities’ or ‘SEND’ in inspection reports, in order to reflect the words used in the revised special educational needs and disability code of practice. Please do not use the phrase ‘pupils who have a disability or have special educational needs’ or ‘DSEN’.
* Sean Harford (HMI, Director, School Inspection) School Inspection Update, March 2016 (6), p.8.
On behalf of SENCOs working in schools and SENCOs/learning support coordinators working in further education contexts I would like to know if a continuity of terminology will be applied to reporting in the post-16 sector?
A new Ofsted report (March 2016), Moving Forward? How well the further education and skills sector is preparing young people with high needs for adult life, uses a 'mix' of post-16 and school terminology (e.g. on p.25 "... the age of 25 for disabled learners and those with special educational needs").
The benefits of consistency are likely to helpful to:
- professionals supporting transition between phases of education
- students and parents who, for many years, have had to navigate the different/variable terminology used by Ofsted when reporting on school and post-16 phases of education
- embedding guidance in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2015).
Christopher
Chair - SENCO Forum (national e-discussion list) Advisory Group
Comment by Christopher Robertson - Chair, SENCo Forum Advisory Group posted on
SENCOs attending a recent conference on embedding the government's special educational needs and disability reforms have asked for clarification about inspection and the checking of compliance with the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and the SEN and Disability regulations (2014). Specifically, during school inspections
Will inspectors check that the SENCO is a qualified teacher (with QTS)?
Will inspectors check that new to role SENCOs are undertaking the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination (qualification to be achieved within three years of taking up SENCO post)?
Will inspectors monitor how academy trust and other schools working in partnership 'share' a SENCO across school settings? The Code of Practice (6.92 - 6.94) states that this practice can only take place in smaller primary schools (smaller is not defined).
If 'compliance' is being monitored, is it being done systematically, and what consequences follow in instances of non-compliance.
Comment by Ofsted external relations posted on
Chris: All inspectors have received training on the SEND Code of Practice and the implications for school inspections. During full or short inspections they may check that the SENCo is an appropriately qualified person if this is identified as a concern or key line of enquiry. Specific questions such as: is the SENCo a qualified teacher or are they undertaking the national award, may be asked as all mainstream schools need to comply with the SEND Code of Practice. Many schools will have already provided this information as part of their SEND policy or information report published on the school’s website. Inspectors will check this as part of their pre inspection preparation and may not need to ask any further questions. The school’s SEND policy should identify if a SENCo is shared with another school. Inspectors would then check that this arrangement was working successfully and that the SENCo had sufficient time and resources made available to support the needs of SEND pupils at both schools.
Inspectors are mindful of compliance issues when judging the overall effectiveness of the provider. If they had evidence that the school were not complying with the Code of Practice or any other statutory guidance this would be reported on and would be likely to influence the judgements made for leadership and management and the overall effectiveness of the school.
Comment by Chelsea posted on
For afters school clubs. One clear outline of what ofsted look for. All the things an outstanding provision should be providing. As well as clearer outline on how regularly clubs will be inspected
Comment by Sharron burrows posted on
We have just been inspected....everything good to outstanding but yet we got RI because of data..what does that mean.
Comment by Sir Cumference posted on
Somewhere in my memory of Ofsted myths is the belief that a school with a new headteacher will not be inspected until after the new head has been in place for twelve months.. is that right or have I imagined it ?
Comment by Ofsted external relations posted on
The only situation where allowance is made for new headteachers is on schools judged to require improvement. The section 8 inspection handbook states:
Schools judged to require improvement will be re-inspected under section 5 usually no later than the end of the term in which the 24th month after the publication of the report falls.
In schools judged to require improvement where a new headteacher joins the school after the section 5 judgement, the school will be re-inspected no later than 30 months after the publication of the previous report.
Comment by Ofsted external relations posted on
Thank you very much for raising this - I'll look in to it.
Comment by Ofsted external relations posted on
Hi Sharron, We would need more information to give a considered response, but even then we're not able to comment on an individual inspection. Sorry we can't assist.
Comment by Sharon posted on
If a school we are considering for our child is judged as "outstanding" (8 years ago), how long approximately until the next inspection please?
Comment by Ofsted external relations posted on
Hi, Maintained primary and secondary schools and academies that were judged to be outstanding in their overall effectiveness at their most recent section 5 inspection are exempt from routine inspection under section 5. However, exempt schools are subject to risk assessment. Detailed information regarding exempt schools can be found in the School inspection handbook - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-from-september-2015
If you wish to make a complaint about a school, guidance on how to proceed is available online https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
Parents can also complete an online survey, Parent View, https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/ which inspectors review as part of gathering information on a school. It can be completed at any time; not just when a school is about to be inspected.
I hope that's helpful.
Comment by Mark posted on
Currently choosing my child's first school
My local school has not been inspected since 2009
Orchard school Sprotbrough doncaster
When is the next inspection due as assume irrespective of it rating in 2009
I revisit is planned by of stead at some point
also have "mini" inspections undertaken since 2009 and if so when was the last one is it possible to get copies of these report
Regards
Mark
Comment by Ofsted external relations posted on
Hi, You are correct, in that Sprotbrough Orchard Infant school was last inspected in March 2009, and it was judged to be ‘Outstanding’. Schools that are judged to be ‘Outstanding’ at their most recent inspection are exempt from routine inspection. However, Ofsted may inspect the school (under section 8 of the Education Act 2005) if Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector or the Secretary of State for Education has concerns about their performance. We formally carry out a risk assessment of exempt schools three years after their most recent full inspection and regularly thereafter, but do not publish a report.
If a section 8 inspection is completed, the published report will be available on Ofsted’s report website.