More than four out of five members of the biggest teaching union in England believe a new system of inspection should be introduced because Ofsted has “many problems”, according to poll results published today.
The vast majority of teachers responding to a poll carried out by the NEU union (90 per cent) said they did not believe single-word inspection judgments were a fair reflection of the performance of a school.
In the survey of more than 4,500 NEU members in state schools in England, 62 per cent said they felt the inspection system causes them mental ill-health and 59 per cent said it affects their home life.
The findings were released on the first day of the NEU’s annual conference in Bournemouth.
Teachers will vote on whether the NEU should lobby political parties ahead of the general election to endorse its campaign to “replace Ofsted”.
Pressure for new school inspection system
A motion, due to be debated today, says the union’s executive should support members in “balloting for, and taking, strike action” where Ofsted pressure leads mock inspections, deep dives and excessive workload.
Ofsted has come under greater scrutiny after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Ms Perry took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her school, Caversham Primary in Reading, Berkshire, from the watchdog’s highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns.
Professor Julia Waters, Ms Perry’s sister, is due to address the NEU conference on Friday.
In the NEU survey, carried out in February, only 3 per cent of respondents said they believe Ofsted acts as a “reliable and trusted arbiter of standards” and just 4 per cent believe it acts independently of government.
More than four in five (82 per cent) agreed with a statement that Ofsted has so many problems that it “would be better to start afresh with a new system of inspection”.
One respondent said: “Ofsted has created toxic environments resulting in damaging pressure on staff and ending the careers of excellent staff.”
Another respondent, who said they were left in tears after speaking to an Ofsted inspector in the past academic year, said: “I was absolutely petrified that I would say something wrong and let the school and my colleagues down.
“I felt so stressed and overwhelmed by the process.”
‘Ofsted’s days are numbered’
Last month Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver launched the watchdog’s Big Listen public consultation, which is seeking people’s views about the inspectorate.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said: “As this survey shows, the inspectorate’s reputation has worsened since we last sought members’ views in 2022.
“No amount of rebranding will eradicate the entrenched view that Ofsted’s days are numbered. If it ever commanded respect, those days are now long gone.
“Single-word judgements are destructive and wrong, and our members agree. But the faults of Ofsted run much deeper. There are serious wellbeing concerns, brought to stark public attention last year.
“We know that Ofsted has been forced into a listening exercise because of that tragedy, but the NEU and its membership do not believe this will lead to fundamental change.”
Mr Kebede added: “Only root-and-branch reform can bring an end to the tyranny of inspection.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said that Ofsted inspections are vital to ensure that “children are safe in school, parents are informed, and the department is able to intervene where strictly necessary”.
They added: “We have worked closely with Ofsted to ensure inspections are conducted with professionalism and compassion. We are supporting Sir Martyn Oliver’s work through the Big Listen, to hear from parents, teachers and education experts to understand where more improvements can be made.”
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “We inspect schools on behalf of children and their parents, but we are very mindful of the pressures on school staff.
“We have already made several changes to inspection over the last year, focused on school leaders’ and staff welfare. But we have promised to go further to strengthen confidence in our work.”
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