Ofsted should drop plans to resume inspections in January because schools need to focus on maximising learning while dealing with ongoing disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the new president of the NAHT school leaders’ union will tell members at its conference tomorrow.

Ruth Davies will use her maiden conference speech to warn the watchdog that it should back off and give schools the space they need to deal with the pandemic, insisting that it should follow the example of Wales and Northern Ireland, where inspections will not restart until the start of the autumn term in 2021.

While acknowledging the need for accountability, Ms Davies will maintain that the timing is not right as school leaders need more space to operate during the pandemic.

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Ms Davies will say: “You cannot inspect a school into greatness. Estyn, ETI and Ofsted would say otherwise, of course, but in Wales and Northern Ireland, at least, inspectors have backed off during the pandemic to allow school leaders the space they need to operate. We urge Ofsted to do the same in England.

Call for Ofsted to delay school inspections

“Is it right for the Welsh, Northern Irish and Westminster governments to hold us to account. Of course it is. But accountability is crushing us.

“It is a brake rather than a rocket-booster. In England, Ofsted plans to begin reinspecting schools in January as if the pandemic had gone away. This is so short-sighted, it would be comical if it didn’t have such potentially awful consequences.

“During the next few months, Ofsted has the power to do so much good. Instead, it is choosing to do harm.

“For a publicly funded body to ignore the views of school leaders and press on with inspection is unforgivable.”

The NAHT believes that the inspectorates in Wales, Northern Ireland and England should all work together with schools to create a new system that takes into account the changes that have occurred in society over the recent months.

Ms Davies will conclude by saying: “In the interim, let’s use the time to rebuild what we want and need from our accountability systems so they are ready to go as soon as schools are able to get back to operating in something like normal circumstances.

“We know that scrutiny is necessary. Of course, tell us when we go wrong, because we want to get it right for these young people. But partners properly commit to helping one another to make things better. They do not hang labels like ‘failing’ or ‘inadequate’ around each other’s necks.”

NAHT will also debate a motion on accountability. 

The motion says: “NAHT will continue to pursue the key recommendations from the NAHT Accountability Commission, including reducing high-stakes accountability measures.

“In addition, we will continue to make a strong case for independent inspection review panels in all nations so that no inspectorate is policing its own complaints.”