The vast majority of school teachers taking part in a major survey agree that Ofsted is not a “reliable” judge of school standards.
Nine in 10 (92 per cent) teachers from schools across all inspection gradings reported that Ofsted is not a “reliable and trusted arbiter of standards”, according to research conducted by Beyond Ofsted, an inquiry into the future of school inspection.
A similar number (89 per cent) disagreed that Ofsted inspections are “a valid method of monitoring performance and holding schools to account”.
Researchers from UCL Institute of Education surveyed 6,708 educators from both primary and secondary schools for Beyond Ofsted, which is chaired by former schools minister Lord Jim Knight.
Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of teachers who responded to the survey did not think that the outcome of their most recent inspection accurately reflected their school.
Even those working in schools rated “good” or “outstanding”, more than half (58 per cent) of respondents did not think the rating was fair. More than 80 per cent of the responses came from schools working in “good” or “outstanding”-rated schools.
Only one in 10 respondents viewed their experience with the watchdog as being a positive one.
Of those settings rated as “requires improvement” or “inadequate”, 94 per cent described their experience as negative, as well as two-thirds (67 per cent) of those teachers from schools with higher inspection grades.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said that Beyond Ofsted’s findings “chime with what we hear from our members - that there is little confidence in Ofsted as a measure of school performance, or in improving standards”.
“While some schools do have a positive experience with Ofsted, many say inspection is simply a driver of high stress and workload, and doesn’t result in anything helpful for schools or parents,” Mr Whiteman added.
Sir Martyn Oliver ‘has a mountain to climb’
Tom Middlehurst, inspection specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, called the research “damning”, and said it shows that in-coming Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver “has a mountain to climb in building trust in the inspection system”.
Sir Martyn Oliver will take over from current chief inspector Amanda Spielman in January 2024.
Mr Middlehurst added: “The key action needed is the removal of the use of blunt, single-phrase judgements, which are punitive and counterproductive; ensuring greater consistency among inspection teams - because at the moment schools and colleges feel inspections are a lottery; and establishing an independent review process that has the power to overturn judgements.”
Commenting on Beyond Ofsted’s findings, a spokesperson for the inspectorate said: “Children only get one chance at education, and inspection helps make sure that education standards are high for all children.
“After every inspection, no matter what the outcome, we ask schools whether they believe the inspection will help them improve. Nine out of 10 say it will. We work constructively with schools, in the best interests of their pupils.”
The future of Ofsted
Today’s data comes after MPs questioned representatives of teaching unions, parents, pupils and governors about the role and future of Ofsted in two evidence sessions at the Commons Education Select Committee last month, which included quizzing Lord Knight.
Commenting on the survey findings, Lord Knight said: ”This research has been extremely valuable as we formulate our recommendations. The strength of feeling about the failings of the current system is clearly universal across the teaching profession.
“Our aim is to identify what is needed to make it fairer and more effective. We look forward to sharing our findings with educators and policymakers.”
Beyond Ofsted’s recommendations will be published in late November.
