Headteachers’ leaders have raised concern about a lack of transparency from Ofsted after the watchdog declined to say which schools are involved in trials of new inspection report cards.
Ofsted is carrying out trials of its new approach to inspections at volunteer schools over the first weeks of this term.
The watchdog said the trial will allow it to “informally test elements” of its new inspection framework, which is set to be introduced this September as the inspectorate moves to a report card system.
However, it failed to provide a list of the schools involved in the pilot when approached by Tes amid concern that the selection process has been unclear.
Ofsted report card trial ‘lacks transparency’
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said: “The whole process feels rushed and lacks transparency.”
Mr Whiteman previously raised concerns that Ofsted was trialling its new approach before the full sector consultation had been launched.
”It does not seem unreasonable for Ofsted to share details on which schools are participating in the trials,” Mr Whiteman said today.
“For too long there has been a sense that Ofsted carries out work behind closed doors, and continuing that approach will do little to rebuild trust with the profession,” he added.
Tes revealed last year that the trials will also test new toolkits that are set to be part of the next inspection framework.
Ofsted confirmed at the time that findings from these trial inspections of volunteer schools will not be published because they are part of the watchdog’s informal engagement ahead of the launch of the consultation.
Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, agreed that it is “crucial that the new inspection system has the trust of the profession”.
“The report card trial is key to this and we would welcome transparency throughout the process,” she said.
Holding schools to ‘higher levels of account’
The watchdog is set to open its sector-wide consultation on the inspection framework and report cards at the end of this month.
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver told MPs earlier this month that he wanted to see a greater focus on vulnerable pupils as part of the new report card process.
He added that the new inspection system will enable Ofsted to hold education providers to “higher levels of account than ever before”.
Draft proposals for the new report card system were leaked last year, with Tes revealing that they would separate teaching and curriculum into individual inspection categories.
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “We believe trialling and piloting are crucial to testing and improving our proposals. We are grateful to the schools who have agreed to be part of these early trials; their support is already resulting in improvements to our reforms.
“In addition, we have had constructive discussions with unions and other stakeholders ahead of a formal consultation which will be launching later this month.”
For the latest education news and analysis delivered every weekday morning, sign up for the Tes Daily newsletter
