An Ofsted shake-up of its complaints policy looking at faster referrals of cases to senior bosses will not go far enough to restore “waning confidence” in the inspectorate, headteachers’ leaders have warned.
The Association of School and College Leaders said that the current complaints process is “convoluted”, with schools feeling that “the dice are loaded against them”.
It warned that confidence in the inspectorate in the schools sector is “waning” and that it needed a complaints process that was demonstrably fair.
The school leaders’ union said that Ofsted has told ASCL that it intends to review its complaints policy amid concerns from school leaders.
However, the inspectorate did not confirm a review was taking place when asked by Tes.
Tom Middlehurst, ASCL’s inspection specialist, said: “It seems likely this [review] will more formally build in the oversight of the national director of education at an earlier stage.
“We don’t think it goes far enough, and there needs to be a more robust review of the complaints system.
“Schools and colleges feel the dice are loaded against them when they use the complaints process and that it is very difficult to successfully challenge an inspection outcome.”
ASCL has also questioned the final stage of Ofsted’s complaint policy, which is an independent review of whether Ofsted followed its proper procedures.
The union said it is concerned that this process cannot result in inspection judgements being overturned.
Mr Middlehurst added: “In order to restore the waning confidence of the sector in Ofsted, it is vital that the inspectorate has an inspection process that is demonstrably fair.”
ASCL has also welcomed Ofsted’s decision to deliver new training for inspectors this term entitled “seeing the big picture”.
The headteachers’ union said this picks up concerns that it has raised that a comment from an individual pupil during inspection can distort an Ofsted judgement.
Mr Middlehurst said: “The voice of pupils is important, of course, but what we have been hearing is that a single remark is sometimes given a disproportionate weight even though it may not be reflective of school policies or practices, or other pupils’ experiences.
“Ofsted inspectors have to view such comments in the context of the whole school or college and this is the purpose of the training theme for inspectors. We welcome this step and are pleased that Ofsted has listened to us on this matter.”
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “Any formal proposals for changes to our processes, such as complaints, will always be subject to wider consultation.”
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