An inquiry chaired by a former schools minister will investigate what is needed to make school inspections “fairer and more effective”.
Beyond Ofsted - An Inquiry into the Future of School Inspection will set out the framework for an inspection system “fit for the increasingly complex needs of schools”.
The inquiry, sponsored by the NEU teaching union and chaired by Lord Jim Knight - a former schools minister - will include input from teachers, headteachers, trust leaders, think tanks and education experts.
And it will publish a report with a set of proposals in November this year.
Ofsted has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Ms Perry’s family said she had taken her own life after an Ofsted inspection, and in the weeks following this, all school teacher and leader unions called on the body to pause inspections so a review could be carried out.
Ofsted inspection ‘too often punishes schools’
Lord Knight said that too often Ofsted inspection “punishes rather than supports”.
“Everyone agrees that schools need to be accountable, and to ensure they are, there needs to be a robust system in place. However, what we currently have with Ofsted is an approach that stirs up stress amongst school leaders that trickles down to staff and pupils,” he said.
“Too often, it punishes rather than supports. The Beyond Ofsted inquiry will rigorously investigate the system and identify what is needed to make it fairer and more effective: a system that does not solely criticise but seeks to provide assistance, especially to those schools that need it most.”
The inquiry will examine evidence from schools across the country and will compare the current school inspection system with those in other countries.
And it will set out proposals for an alternative approach to inspection.
The inquiry’s advisory board will include Dame Alison Peacock, CEO at the Chartered College of Teaching; Jo Hutchinson, director for SEND and additional needs at think tank the Education Policy Institute; and Jason Elsom, CEO of the parent group Parentkind.
Ofsted was contacted for comment.
