New Rules in Ofsted Inspections: Reactions and Implications

This month, Ofsted have announced a series of changes to their inspection regime. These changes have been introduced in response to a number of high-profile cases that have called into question the efficacy of the current inspections.  

A major catalyst was the tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after her school was downgraded from "outstanding" to "inadequate". This sparked a national outcry and a serious debate about the pressures associated with Ofsted inspections. 

The Reforms 

The reforms are intended to ease the burden felt by school leaders and to make the inspection process fairer and less stressful.  

One of the key changes is that schools rated inadequate solely because of errors in safeguarding procedures will be re-inspected by Ofsted within three months. This gives school leaders an opportunity to quickly address and rectify the concerns. Such a policy may have benefited Perry’s school, which would have been rated as “good” but for the procedural errors.  
 
Another significant change is that schools will be given a broad timeframe for their next inspection of between a term to a year, but will still only receive one day’s notice of the exact date. This is intended to provide more clarity and predictability for schools. 

Reactions to the New Rules

The announcement of the new rules has elicited a variety of responses. Many have welcomed the changes, seeing them as a necessary step towards improving safeguarding in schools. 

In a press release, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, said: 

“When we inspect schools our priority must always be children’s education and wellbeing – but at the same time we want to make sure inspection is as positive an experience for school staff as it can be. Since the sad death of Ruth Perry, there has been considerable debate around Ofsted’s work and I want to reassure people that we are listening to their concerns, and thinking carefully about how we can revise aspects of our work without losing our clear focus on the needs of children and their parents. 

We have listened to many voices in this debate. I’m particularly grateful to union leaders, other sector representatives and the Secretary of State for the constructive discussions we’ve had over the last couple of months, which have helped us with this package of measures.” 

Echoing her comments, Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education said: 

“Ofsted is central to this government’s success in raising school standards, and it is right it continues to evolve. 

We must ensure our school leaders have the support they need, which is why today we are significantly expanding our wellbeing support. This expansion will help make sure head teachers have access to support whenever they need it. 

Taken together, today’s announcements are a really important step. I have committed to continuing our work on improving the way we inspect our schools with Ofsted and the family of Ruth Perry following her tragic death.”

However, the responses weren’t all positive. Critics of Ofsted’s single-word judgements were disappointed to see this system is to continue. 

The family of headteacher, Ruth Perry, have been campaigning for this to be changed. Commenting on the changes, Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Walters said: 

“I am disappointed that no mention is made about removing harmful and misleading single-word judgments. I can understand the need to provide clarity and simplicity for parents about an inspection but too much is hidden or lost behind a headline judgment of just one or two words.” 

“Ruth was not the first headteacher or teacher to take her own life following an Ofsted inspection. I am determined that she should be the last.” 

Despite the criticism, Ofsted's chief inspector Amanda Spielman has stated that single-word judgements are essential for keeping the inspection process easy to understand for parents. 

While the reactions to the changes have been mixed, the new Ofsted rules represent a significant shift in school inspection approaches.  If you are concerned about how your school will deal with the changes, you can find comprehensive guidance on the government website here.