Unions respond as Ofsted survey shows new inspections harmed wellbeing

Ofsted have released a summary of the initial findings of independent research into its new inspection framework. Ofsted commissioned IFF Research to carry out an independent evaluation of its new education inspection framework (EIF), for schools, early years settings, and FE colleges.

A summary of interim findings gives the broadest look so far at how providers are finding “report card” inspections, introduced late last year. The full report is due next year. Ofsted chief inspector Martyn Oliver said it shows the watchdog is “on the right track”, sparking backlash from unions, who branded the findings “damning” and Oliver “out of touch”.

The new findings are based on surveys of 699 education providers inspected between January and May, and focus groups and interviews with around 80 providers. Just over 250 schools took part, representing around 23 per cent of those inspected during the period.

Commenting on IFF Research’s report, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:

This rose-tinted portrayal of Ofsted’s new framework could not be further from the truth.

The NEU’s own report surveyed more widely and paints an entirely different picture. One third of leaders told us they wanted to leave the profession after experiencing a new framework inspection.

Sir Martyn Oliver remains completely out of touch. The new inspection framework is no better than the previous, and in many respects has worsened. Workload has increased. The sense of dread remains. Schools in deprived areas are now statistically more likely to receive harsher Ofsted grades.

Ofsted is a key driver of fear, anxiety and stress. Lucy Powell has indicated a readiness to review. We want to see a new system that is more supportive, but also fair and effective. It is what the profession is crying out for.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of leaders’ union ASCL, agreed the wellbeing findings “should be ringing alarm bells”.

He said leaders “fully accept the need for an independent inspection system which provides information and assurance to parents”, but that this “should never be at the expense of the wellbeing of our education workforce”.

“Ofsted has not done nearly enough to address this issue and we call upon the government to intervene and conduct a review of the inspection system.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

These findings reinforce what school leaders have been telling us about the new inspection framework.

It is simply unacceptable that nearly nine in ten (88%) school leaders reported that their own wellbeing, or that of staff involved in their inspection, had been negatively affected by the process. Given the events that prompted calls for reform of the inspection system, that figure should stop everyone in their tracks.

The report also shows that inspection continues to be a significant driver of workload in schools, with fewer than one in three school leaders (32%) agreeing that the workload created by their inspection was manageable.

While it is encouraging to see evidence that most inspectors are behaving in a more courteous and respectful manner, this is the very least we should expect and it remains a concern that some school staff still felt they were not treated respectfully during inspection.

Many of the figures lump together different types of education provider, but it is vital that we are clear what schools specifically are saying about the new framework and lots of this data is missing. We urge Ofsted to release the full survey findings – failure to do so would again demonstrate a reluctance on its part to be transparent about research findings.

Ofsted is once again trying to put a positive spin on a truly terrible situation, showing the profession why it cannot be trusted. The evidence is clear that the framework is still creating unacceptable levels of pressure, workload and stress. It is a damning indictment – certainly not a vindication.

This report only strengthens our belief that graded inspections should be halted immediately and replaced with a more constructive approach. That must be followed by a commitment to fundamental reform of how school inspection is carried out in England.