Ofsted’s chief inspector has said he is “really concerned” about orphan schools and warned that there should not be a system where trusts “are afraid to take on schools because of anything to do with Ofsted”.
Speaking at the Schools and Academies Show in London today, Sir Martyn Oliver said that the “most vulnerable children need the best teachers”.
Orphan schools, also known as “untouchable schools”, are those that can appear unattractive to potential sponsors because of their circumstances.
And speaking to leaders today, Sir Martyn said that he is trying to balance an “evolution” rather than a “revolution” of Ofsted.
This comes after Ofsted launched its Big Listen consultation in March, following concerns raised over the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Off-rolling schools should be graded ‘inadequate’
Sir Martyn also said that he did not think a school should be graded as “good” if it is off-rolling and “a school that off-rolls should be inadequate”.
The chief inspector argued that a school needed to meet the needs of local children.
However, Sir Martyn said he understood “the pressures people are under, with the accountability system that might drive these unintended consequences”.
Sir Martyn emphasised the caution he was taking with change, arguing that the system is “in too fragile a state right now to deal with consequences from decisions I make”.
Responding to a question asking whether schools should have a cohort of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) that’s reflective of their local environment, Sir Martyn said “I’m really concerned about that”.
“I’m really concerned about schools that no one wants, as they used to be called...they were the schools I always used to sponsor. And that’s just ridiculous,” Sir Martyn added.
He later said: “There shouldn’t be a system where they are afraid to take on those schools because of anything to do with Ofsted. That’s just nonsense. The most vulnerable children need the best leaders and the best teachers. So again, one of the reasons why I came to the job is how do I focus on that.”
Sir Martyn said that the changes are “really complex” and he needed to work through “a series of steps and processes, and get this really complicated work right”.
‘I’ll change the way we inspect’
Before replacing Amanda Spielman as chief inspector, Sir Martyn was chief executive of Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT).
Asked whether it’s the case that the rating of a school that’s inspected just before any reforms occur will be “caveated”, until a new system comes in, Sir Martyn said “I think it is”.
He added that this is the case now for “outstanding” schools yet to be inspected under the new framework.
And Sir Martyn once again pointed to concerns over the funding of the inspectorate, claiming that its funding has dropped by 29 per cent in real terms since 2009-2010 despite a growing remit.
While he said that he doesn’t think Ofsted should be “at the front of the line for any extra funding” amid wider challenges in the sector, he argued that it is “part of the system”.
Sir Martyn estimated a current overspend in the budget of £1.2m.
And he said that “even if we don’t get more money, I’ll change the way we inspect to allow the inspection process to be as empathetic...as I think it needs to be.”
