Six in ten headteachers think that Ofsted is proposing to inspect “too many” areas, according to a poll released following the launch of the inspectorate’s report card plans.
Ofsted published a consultation on its proposals for inspection report cards this week, which would see schools judged across at least nine different areas using a five-point rating scale.
The plans have been widely criticised, with the Association of School and College Leaders warning that they will subject a “beleaguered profession to yet more misery”. A snap poll by the NAHT school leaders’ union found that nine in 10 school leaders (92 per cent) are rejecting Ofsted’s plans for the new inspection design.
Tes commissioned Teacher Tapp to poll teachers and senior leaders on the day of the report card launch. It asked 9,755 of them if they thought the nine inspection areas proposed by Ofsted was the right number.
Nine areas is ‘too many’, say most heads
More than half of senior leaders (61 per cent) who responded said that nine areas is “too many” for Ofsted to inspect, with 29 per cent reporting that they are “not sure” whether it was the right amount.
Inspection areas will include “attendance”, “developing teaching” and “inclusion”, if Ofsted’s plans go ahead.
Schools will also be provided with inspection toolkits to better understand what Ofsted is looking for during inspections.
Classroom teachers and middle leaders were less sure about the proposed number of inspection areas, with 40 per cent and 42 per cent respectively saying that they were not certain the number was right.
Ofsted inspectors have anonymously told Tes that “corners will have to be cut” to meet the scale of the new reports.
Primary teachers more concerned about inspection areas
Respondents who work in primary schools were more likely than their secondary counterparts to disagree with the number of inspection areas on offer.
Around half (52 per cent) of primary school teachers and leaders said that nine areas was “too many” for Ofsted to inspect.
This dropped to 37 per cent for secondary school respondents, who were instead more likely to report that they were “not sure” about the number of inspection areas (49 per cent).
The poll comes after Ofsted admitted this week that deep dives were “more challenging” in smaller primary schools.
The report card consultation has proposed to scrap both subject deep dives and ungraded inspections.
For the latest education news and analysis delivered every weekday morning, sign up for the Tes Daily newsletter
