Shake-up could force inspection companies to mergein pursuit of multi-millions. Philippa White reports
SCHOOL inspections in England could be provided by only eight companies with six-year contracts worth pound;45 million each under a radical shake-up being considered by the Office for Standards in Education.
Independent inspection companies have already started merging in the hope of winning a lucrative regional contract.
Heads’ unions say the plans could reduce variability among inspections but say that the new “regional monopolies” will need a better complaints system for schools.
Ofsted is consulting on the proposals with its 67 existing inspection providers. Wider consultation with schools, governors, education authorities and unions is planned for the end of the year.
An Ofsted spokeswoman said: “We are proposing a more strategic relationship with a smaller number of providers, in line with best public-sector procurement policy. At this stage we are asking whether the market can deliver.”
Under the proposals, one inspection provider could win the contract for each region and be responsible for all standard inspections in that area. It could conduct around 390 primary, 70 secondary, 25 special school and 10 pupil referral unit inspections a year. Contracts could be for as long as six years in return for “better value for money for Ofsted”.
The first two regions could be set up after Easter next year to start inspecting schools from September 2004.
This week a new school inspection firm was formed from four existing companies (TWA, Lynrose, Evenlode and QICS) and support services company Capita. Ian Harrison, managing director of Capita Strategic Education Services, said: “We haven’t been involved with school inspections before, but larger contracts make it more attractive to us.”
George Wallace, a director of TWA and managing director of the new, unnamed company, said: “Ofsted is consulting on proposals to move to fewer, larger-term contracts and we have put ourselves in a prime position to bid for these.”
John Chowcat, general secretary of the National Association of Educational Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants, welcomed the plans. Regional inspectors would be better placed to understand the context of a school and liaise with local education authority advisers, he said.
