Since becoming Ofsted chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver has sought to put daylight between himself and his predecessor, in large part by acknowledging that the sector has many issues with the inspectorate, and by seeking to understand these in detail.

That is why all eyes - and ears - were on his unveiling of the Big Listen, an exercise he claimed is about ensuring that “every voice is heard” and “nothing is off the table” when it comes to considering how Ofsted could change.

Sadly, though, having had the time to look in detail at what the Big Listen entails, it is tempting to borrow from Ofsted’s terminology and declare it “inadequate”.

Not asking the right questions

Chiefly, the Big Listen appears more like the Big Exercise in Control. It presents all stakeholders with the same pre-prepared questions, whether relevant to them or not, and overlooks whole aspects of the system.

Meanwhile, the consultation design is based on multiple-choice responses to a limited series of questions set within carefully designed parameters. It appears to maintain Ofsted’s fidelity to the same unshakeable belief in the importance of the things it deems important.

When asking whether its work gives us “a strong indication of the overall quality of the schools system”, Ofsted does include questions about the detail of the frameworks that punch out its single-word verdicts.

I doubt, for instance, whether the sequencing of learning in PE tells us anything much at all. I would be much more interested in whether a school was financially viable and fire-safe.

There is not even a question on the issue of whether Ofsted should move away from or retain single-word judgements - hardly a sign of a listening exercise where nothing is off the table.

More transparency needed

What’s more, it appears that responses received will be seen by Ofsted only and not made available for wider reading.

This is very much the opposite of what is needed to either restore trust and confidence in Ofsted or reveal a need to sweep it away completely and replace it with something more fit for purpose.

Taking all of this into account, I feel that even though the Big Listen exercise suggests an awareness of concerns in the sector about Ofsted and the need to acknowledge this, Sir Martyn and his team have perhaps underestimated the strength of this feeling.

We have tolerated Ofsted’s failings for many, many years. Rather than punching rude inspectors, as the secretary of state suggests she might have done in our place, we have tolerated them. We have bent over backwards to accommodate them. We have gritted our teeth, kept in mind the greater good and allowed inspections to continue, even when ill-informed and ill-equipped inspectors have entered our schools. This is primarily because the power dynamic is so overwhelmingly in Ofsted’s favour.

School leaders are in the position of David versus Goliath - there is a power asymmetry that compels acquiescence even in the face of the most egregious circumstances.

Need for change

The impact this can have was made clear by the death of headteacher Ruth Perry last year, which was a huge catalyst for the change that Sir Martyn is overseeing.

He has pledged to do everything in his power to ensure inspections are carried out with professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect, and include due consideration of staff welfare. He has said that no one should feel as Ms Perry did during her school’s inspection.

It is our duty to support Sir Martyn in this by honouring our colleague Ms Perry and ensuring that none of us is ever again faced with that same horrific pressure simply as a result of the call to public service that we have answered.

This means we must go beyond the narrow parameters of the Big Listen and make calls for change in Ofsted wherever possible, so we ensure that any opportunity for change for the better is not lost.

Ofsted has, it must be acknowledged, made some changes in response to criticism that has been raised already, such as revising its complaints process and creating a national helpline that we are told will see concerns or complaints dealt with professionally.

We are also told that raising such complaints and concerns will not impact negatively on school inspection judgements.

We must make our voices heard

We should take Ofsted at its word - and hold it to its word.

We, school leaders, have taken public service positions of responsibility on behalf of our communities. We must now use the power of those positions to secure real, lasting change for the better on their behalf.

This conversation must take place in public. It should cover the matters that the sector wants to talk about. It should be led by us, and Sir Martyn could demonstrate that he is true to his word by listening.

Mark Wilson is CEO of Wellspring Academy Trust

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