Ofsted inspectors are undergoing new training on understanding small schools that they will need to complete before being able to inspect settings with 150 or fewer pupils.
The watchdog said it has developed the training to ensure that its inspectors “make adaptions to their thinking and practice” when visiting smaller schools.
The training was delivered to most inspectors last month.
It has been developed by Ofsted’s own small schools reference group to enhance understanding of the context in which smaller schools work.
The move follows concerns that the current Education Inspection Framework (EIF) is more challenging for smaller primary schools.
Ofsted’s reference group includes headteachers, trust leaders, teachers and local authority representatives, as well as Ofsted staff.
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “From our engagement so far, we have developed training for all inspectors to share the context of small schools and help them to make adaptions to their thinking and practice.
”This training is for all inspectors, and most inspectors were trained in January. All inspectors of small schools will have received the training before their next inspection of a school of 150 or fewer pupils.”
There have been concerns that the current EIF - with its emphasis on curriculum and deep dives into individual subjects - is more challenging for smaller primary schools, where one member of staff could be the lead in several subject areas.
A Tes investigation based on analysis of inspection outcomes revealed that England’s smallest primary schools were five times more likely to be rated “inadequate” by Ofsted than the largest ones.
Training for Ofsted inspections of smaller schools
Julie Kelly, headteacher liaison officer at the National Association of Small Schools and a member of the reference group, said it was a “small step forward” but added that the inspection framework still has not changed.
“From what feedback we are getting, it was the right people that [Ofsted] were talking to, there was research into it, and from what we can tell, it is having a positive impact,” Ms Kelly said.
“But, of course, it is early days,” added Ms Kelly, who is a headteacher at a small rural school in Hampshire. “Obviously the framework itself actually has not changed.”
Lee Owston, national director for education at Ofsted, told a recent Schools North East conference that the reference group has been visiting as many small schools as possible to understand “how they operate and listen to their views”.
Although training has taken place this year, Ofsted’s small-school reference group was created during Amanda Spielman’s time as chief inspector. Sir Martyn Oliver succeeded her in the role at the beginning of last month.
The training comes at a time when MPs have called for Ofsted to review the implementation of the EIF, looking at primary schools, special schools and small schools.
The watchdog has introduced a number of reforms after a coroner found that an Ofsted inspection “likely contributed” to the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Inspectors are also being trained on how to spot signs of distress in headteachers, and have been provided with written guidance on how to pause an inspection if it is thought that a headteacher needs additional support.
James Bowen, assistant general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said: “NAHT has been arguing for a number of years that there are a range of problems with the current framework when it comes to small schools, including how deep dives are carried out.
“We are pleased that Ofsted has been willing to engage with us in relation to these concerns, and through our continued presence on the reference group we will continue to push for further improvements in how small schools are inspected. In the longer term, we continue to believe that fundamental reform of the current approach to inspection is required.”
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said: “We are pleased that the unfair pressures Ofsted places on small schools have at last been recognised. The NEU has long said that the Education Inspection Framework is written with large secondary schools in mind. The [Commons] Education Select Committee also reported on this issue this week.
“Leading subjects looks very different in small schools, when compared to larger ones. Smaller schools might structure their classes and year groups in a way that suits their pupils but does not fit the picture Ofsted wants to see of linear curriculum development.”
