Ofsted has said that its response to its consultation on new inspections is set to be published later than it had hoped but added that it is not looking to delay the launch of its new inspection framework.
In an email to Ofsted’s workforce, seen by Tes, the inspectorate’s chief operating officer Matthew Coffey said it was “not the case that we are looking to delay the start of inspections”.
He added that Ofsted’s discussions with the Department for Education are “ongoing”.
This comes after it was reported that the inspectorate was considering a delay in implementing its new inspections and report cards.
It launched a major consultation on its plans earlier this year and is set to launch the new inspections in the second half term of autumn 2025.
The email sent to staff on Friday says: “It is true that we are likely to publish our response to the consultation a little later than we hoped.”
‘Large number of responses’
Ofsted is planning to inspect schools across 11 different areas on a five-point grading scale when it launches its report cards later this year.
The inspectorate launched a consultation on a new inspection framework after the government scrapped overall single-word effectiveness grades with immediate effect at the start of the current academic year.
The proposals have been met with widespread criticism from the sector, with the NAHT school leaders’ union threatening legal action if the plans are not changed.
Mr Coffey said that the reason Ofsted is likely delaying its school report card consultation is because of the “very large number of responses” the watchdog has received, which he said the inspectorate needs to consider “carefully”.
He added that Ofsted is also in conversations with the DfE about its response to the sector’s feedback.
The consultation for Ofsted’s proposed changes closed on 28 April. The inspectorate has said that it will publish a report on the outcome of the consultation in the summer.
Teachers being ‘met with silence’
In response to the potential consultation delay, Matt Wrack, acting general secretary for the NASUWT teaching union, said that the sector is being met with “silence”.
“When Ofsted wants answers, teachers have no choice but to comply - often at great expense to their wellbeing. But when teachers want answers from Ofsted, they are met with silence,” he warned.
“If Ofsted has so many responses to its consultation that it needs to delay publishing the results, it is only logical that it also delays the launch of the new inspection framework. Anything else would render the consultation process a farce.”
Ofsted has been contacted for comment.
