The Association of Colleges (AoC) welcomes the publication by Ofsted of its proposed new Education Inspection Framework (EIF), which is now subject to a twelve-week consultation, with a view to it being in use from September 2019.

This proposed framework represents an important change in the way colleges are inspected and one which we welcome. Based on what we have seen so far, we feel that this new inspection framework has the potential to move us in the right direction. While this change is largely evolutionary rather than revolutionary, we will be seeking further reassurance on certain key questions.

Firstly, AoC supports the greater focus on curriculum intent and implementation and the shift from the current over-reliance on achievement data to help make judgements. This is particularly welcome at a time when accountability measures seem to be increasing in number and complexity.

However, this change has the potential to create more scope for subjectivity in judgements. We want to be confident that inspectors have the sector knowledge and experience to help them contextualise what they see in colleges and apply the new framework objectively and as consistently as humanly possible.

Further qualification needed

Ofsted has worked hard to engage with the sector through research, conferences and piloting so there is little to surprise us in the consultation document, but there are still a few points that need further clarification:

• If the exemption for colleges judged “outstanding” is to be removed from legislation, then the inspection cycle will need to be realigned and the risk model changed. This could impact the re-inspection cycles for all inspection grades, not just the ‘requires improvement’ grade as identified in the consultation.
• Many multi-campus colleges will welcome the campus-level inspection narratives linked to campus-level data reporting. Campus-level judgements may make it difficult to reliably aggregate grades at the group level and may limit overall effectiveness grades.
• The simplification of the framework is generally a good thing, but we need to discuss further the likely adverse impact of the removal of a separate grade for SEN provision.
• We need to understand and agree on the process by which inspection teams approach the mix and balance of provision to be evaluated.

In our consultation response, we will also be calling for a root and branch review of the complaints process to give colleges and leaders a fair right to reply before reports are published.

Reporting in general, as the consultation indicates is also due an overhaul. Ofsted reports should be useful to parents, employers and educators alike. We look forward to working with Ofsted on any future testing and proposals in this area.

Inspection handbook

Ofsted has unusually released its proposed inspection handbook(s) at the same time as launching their consultation. This also is very welcome. When new inspection frameworks are introduced, we have historically seen a dip in judgements as everyone adapts to the new framework. It will be interesting to observe if this trend continues from September 2019.

Finally, inspection is an important aspect of college accountability and 79 per cent of colleges are currently graded “good” or “outstanding”. We value an independent and objective inspectorate which grounds its work in evidence and research and which is not afraid to speak truth to power.

We support chief inspector Amanda Spielman’s call for Ofsted to once again become “a force for improvement”. Our students, staff and communities need to have confidence in Ofsted and its judgements and we will be working closely with member colleges to respond to the consultation.

David Corke is director of policy at the Association of Colleges