Less than four in 10 headteachers have used Ofsted inspection findings to make changes to improve standards in the year after they were visited, a survey has revealed.
However the watchdog found that more schools - 56 per cent - had used inspection findings to inform their improvement planning.
The findings are contained in Ofsted’s annual report and accounts for 2022-23.
Here is everything you need to know from the report:
1. 37% of heads have made changes as a result of Ofsted inspections
Ofsted findings from a survey of state schools in England that had been inspected nine to 12 months earlier found that just over a third (37 per cent) had made changes to improve standards as a direct result of that inspection’s findings.
This was lower than for all the other sectors and phases that Ofsted inspects.
The data shows that 43 per cent of early years providers, 56 per cent of independent schools, 69 per cent of further education colleges and 71 per cent of social care providers had made changes in the year following inspection.
The inspectorate said that the survey was carried out in May this year and suggested that the results “may have been influenced by the media debates about Ofsted in this period”.
The watchdog also carries out surveys of headteachers directly after an inspection, with 92 per cent believing that their inspection will help them to improve.
2. Half of teachers have read Ofsted’s research
Ofsted commissioned Teacher Tapp to ask teachers whether they had read its research findings and, if so, whether they had made changes to their practice as a result.
The figures showed that about half of teachers surveyed (51 per cent) had read Ofsted’s research.
However, of those who had read the inspectorate’s research, less than half (41 per cent) had made changes to their practice as a consequence.
The annual report says this is broadly consistent with 2021-22 figures.
One of the watchdog’s strategic priorities is “making the most of our insights”.
3. Ofsted ‘expected to do more with less’
Ofsted’s report shows that, by the end of the current Spending Review period in 2024-25, its funding is expected to be at a similar level to 2010-11 in cash terms - which is at least 25 per cent lower in real terms.
The inspectorate report adds that: “We have also been asked to do significantly more during that period.”
The watchdog did receive additional funding in 2022-23 as part of the Spending Review. The report said this was for additional work, including to accelerate its inspections of schools.
Ofsted has been funded through the Spending Review to inspect every state-funded school at least once between April 2021 and July 2025.
This includes all the “outstanding” schools that were previously due to be inspected by July 2026, after the lifting of their exemption from routine inspection.
4. Strikes impacted Ofsted schedule
The report shows that Ofsted carried out 160 fewer school inspections than planned in 2022-23.
Tables show that it had planned to carry out 5,888 inspections and actually did 5,728, meaning there has been a small shortfall of 3 per cent.
The report says: “We lost a number of inspections due to industrial action. Despite this, we remain on course to meet our commitment of inspecting every school at least once by July 2025.”
In a foreword to the annual report, chief inspector Amanda Spielman said that teacher strikes did have some impact on its inspection schedule.
However, she said that the inspectorate was “able to mitigate against this by planning our work around strike dates”.
Tes reported earlier this year how Ofsted was contacting schools on a Friday to inform them of an inspection starting on Monday as it brought visits forward to avoid industrial action launched by the NEU teaching union.
5. Inspectors’ length of service drops
In the past year, there has been a drop in the mean length of service Ofsted inspectors stay in post.
The figures show that for 2022-23 the figure was 3.1 years compared with 3.7 years a year earlier.
However, Ofsted said this still lies within the range of three to four years outlined in its strategy.
The annual report said there has been a 10 per cent increase on last year in the proportion of inspectors who, on leaving, say that Ofsted has helped them to develop their career.
And it said there has “also been a substantial increase in the proportion of HMI (His Majesty’s inspectors) who become contracted inspectors on leaving”.
6. Two school inspection grades changed following complaints
Ofsted has changed two school inspection grades as a result of complaints in 2022-23.
The annual report said that it received 247 complaints from schools, of which 218 were state schools and 29 were independent.
Overall across the sectors it inspects, Ofsted dealt with 1,199 complaints this year. The report said that 23 per cent had an aspect upheld or partially upheld, but it does not provide a breakdown for schools.
The report added that most upheld complaints were down to “something in the inspection process [that] could have been better or a small change was required to the report”.
It adds: “Unsurprisingly, most complaints from providers challenge the grade they received. Many of these also include concerns about inspectors’ conduct or how the inspection was carried out, for example about the opportunity for a provider to present evidence, meetings as part of the inspection visit or inspectors giving on-site feedback. Some also feel that we did not fully consider the comments they gave on their draft inspection report.”
It said that, after complaint investigations closed this year, Ofsted changed the overall effectiveness of two school inspections.
It also deemed four school inspections to be incomplete following a complaint, which led to inspectors carrying out a further visit to gather additional evidence.
7. Amanda Spielman’s pay increased to at least £190K
The annual report includes tables outlining the salary of Ofsted’s senior leaders.
This showed that the salary of chief inspector Amanda Spielman increased from between £185,000 and £190,000 in 2021-22 to between £190,000 and £195,000 in 2022-23.
Her term comes to an end in 2023 - having been extended for two years in 2021 as a result of the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.
In a job advert for her successor, the salary for the next chief inspector is said to be £165,000 per year.
Overall, Ms Spielman’s salary and pension package was between £265,000 and £270,000 in 2022-23.
