Ofsted should come back to schools with “humility” because it hasn’t been able to offer advice to schools during the crisis, according to a multi-academy trust chief and former government adviser.

Sir Andrew Carter, chief executive of the South Farnham Educational Trust, said that the watchdog had been unable to offer advice to schools because the situation they were dealing with was outside of its range of experiences.

While specifying that he wasn’t against Ofsted, he made the point that its return next year needs to be thought out.

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Sir Andrew, who chaired the government’s 2015 review of initial teacher training, said: “The thought of Ofsted coming back in the new year seems to me something we need to think about, and the government needs to think about. How would they do that?

Coronavirus: Ofsted ‘unable to offer schools advice’

“We want to make sure Ofsted comes back with a certain amount of humility, because they were unable to answer any questions during this process, and the schools were.

“There might need to be some work done about finding out what was the successful leadership in this process… it’s probably the same successful leadership that’s leading to schools being good in normal time.

“Ofsted has been unable to offer advice during this period because they have nothing to offer because this is outside of their range of experience - outside of all of our ranges.”

Sir Andrew spoke in a panel discussion on the journey of the education sector during the pandemic and the challenges it faces in the months ahead during the The Schools and Academies Show and EdTech Summit.

Ofsted has been approached for comment.