It feels like crunch time is approaching when it comes to Ofsted reform.
The inspectorate’s direction of travel when it comes to the changes needed - with proposals apparently including an enhanced role for sub-grades - has caused real concern among school leaders.
The new government’s decision to scrap crude single-word grades was followed by some helpful interim changes at Ofsted.
These included the inspectorate piloting a new approach of notifying schools by Monday afternoon of any inspection to be carried out that same week. This marked a significant win for the NAHT school leaders’ union and others who have campaigned for change.
Yet, school leaders are clear that these changes alone do not go far enough. Nothing less than full system reform of both the inspectorate and inspection is required.
Lacking confidence
Sadly, we continue to hear of shocking experiences suffered by our members. They believe much more needs to be done to reset a high-stakes regime that heaps pressure on school leaders and their staff, and harms their wellbeing.
New data we are sharing today reveals that 93 per cent of school leaders surveyed by the NAHT do not have confidence in Ofsted to design an effective new inspection system.
Some 76 per cent believe a completely new inspection framework and methodology is needed, rejecting Ofsted’s plans to “evolve” the current framework.
Leaders also believe deep and lasting reform is required, not a revised version of the current broken and discredited system, which does not provide consistent, fair or reliable information for parents or for schools - despite the disproportionate pressure and extraordinary workload that it creates.
Critically, this is fuelling the severe crisis in teacher and leader retention. Inspection reform is central to government achieving its ambition to reset the relationship with the profession and to achieve a step change that retains and recruits sufficient high-quality professionals.
What needs to happen now
School leaders were understandably dismayed to discover parts of a new framework are already being trialled this month. This trial is taking place before Ofsted’s consultation has even opened, sparking understandable cynicism and anger. The NAHT believes the process is being rushed.
School leaders are already concerned about whether this will be a genuine consultation - perhaps with good reason after Ofsted’s Big Listen last year, which did not allow respondents to give clear and direct feedback on some of the key issues.
A botched approach to the next phase of the consultation will simply erode the trust of the profession even further.
Unhelpful leaks have led to real fears that we will be presented with another fait accompli - like the consultation ahead of the disastrous 2019 changes to the framework, when genuine issues and objections were brushed aside, only to be proved correct.
Parents and professionals must be given the opportunity to express their views clearly on the sort of inspection system they want to see - because the inspectorate has still not truly grasped the full scale of the reforms needed.
The entire purpose and value of inspection in its current guise needs to be considered.
England as an outlier
Ofsted itself needs reform. It must listen and act upon the feedback it receives, and make meaningful changes in response, not just minor tweaks. It must be willing to go back to the drawing board if necessary.
Other inspectorates have fundamentally reviewed their approach to how they inspect and report on schools. In many ways, England is now an outlier.
School leaders accept the need for accountability, and very few take issue with some form of independent inspection.
However, it must be fair, proportionate and humane. For years, if not decades, inspection has been going in the wrong direction. This feels like a real opportunity to genuinely create an accountability system that works for all.
It is vital that Ofsted grasps the nettle and commits to a fundamentally new approach.
Paul Whiteman is general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union
For the latest education news and analysis delivered every weekday morning, sign up for the Tes Daily newsletter
