Ofsted inspectors are concerned that the watchdog’s controversial visits to schools this term will add pressure on heads, risk spreading Covid-19 and won’t provide parents with much useful information, Tes has been told.
Senior inspectors have also asked Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman why these new visits set to start at the end of the month cannot be carried out remotely.
And a union representing Ofsted inspectors has raised concerns that they could be exposed to risk because of the visits and become a “vector for spreading the disease”.
The visits have already provoked widespread opposition with critics suggesting they amount to inspection under a different name and school leaders saying they do not need any extra pressure.
Exclusive: HMI ‘fear becoming a Typhoid Mary’ spreading virus between schools
Heads: Dismayed school leader unions call for Ofsted letter rethink
Need to know: How are Ofsted’s new visits going to work
Now, inspectors have raised questions about why the visits are happening at all and suggested Ofsted is carrying them out in order to be “seen to be needed.”
News of the internal objections comes with Ofsted facing mounting pressure from school leaders and governors to rethink its plan for letters to published following its visits to schools containing inspectors’ findings.
Ofsted inspectors also have deep reservations. “There is a concern that we are going to be doing this to be visible and to justify our existence and being seen to be needed without really adding much to the sum of knowledge about how the system is working,” one inspector told Tes.
“I know some HMI are looking forward to going back into schools and others have real concerns. There is a split and I would that say that a significant number share these concerns.”
He also told Tes that one inspector had said they were worried HMI could become a “Typhoid Mary”, spreading Covid-19 between schools unawares.
And he said Ofsted inspectors had asked Ms Spielman why visits could not take place remotely.
He added: ”“Every couple of weeks we have a webinar with the chief inspector and the question was put to her if we are not going to be going into classrooms and we are only going to be speaking to leaders why can’t these meetings be done virtually and I don’t think there is really an answer to this.”
As the Ofsted visits will not check on how well schools are meeting the Department for Education’s guidelines for reopening during the Covid-19 pandemic, the inspector also questioned how much useful information they would provide to parents.
“You could argue that they are not going to be providing the information that parents actually want,” he added.
Geoff Barton, Association of School and College Leaders general secretary, said: “We are not surprised to hear that some inspectors have misgivings about the planned autumn visits. The rationale for them is a muddle, and they smack of giving Ofsted something to do, rather than a coherent policy.
“In terms of health and safety, these visits are yet another thing that schools will have to manage within their control measures. It just isn’t the right priority at the moment when there is so much else to do. Ofsted seems unable to understand this.”
Duncan Woodhead, a national officer with the FDA union, which represents Ofsted inspectors, said: “We have raised concerns with Ofsted about the potential for these visits to be a vector for spreading the disease.
“We have received reassurances that a significant amount of the work members undertake in relation to these visits can be done virtually or remotely and that time spent in person, on site, will be socially distanced and in line with site-specific policies which have been assessed to mitigate Covid 19 risk.”
Mr Woodhead also said discussions had taken place about how to make the visits as safe as possible when HMI start returning into schools from the end of this month.
He added: “We have also had conversations about whether HMI can meet school leaders in well ventilated areas or if there are outdoor areas which are covered whether meetings could take place there.”
He said that Ofsted had engaged well with the union over the assurance visits to schools.
He added: “Ofsted has listened to the union and acknowledged our members right to choose to wear a face covering when they visit schools.
“Everyone’s circumstances are unique. We have previously spoken to Ofsted on behalf of several individuals who have either concerns about themselves or members of their households in connection with these visits.”
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “Our visits this term are not inspections. They are not judgemental, they are not graded and they require no preparation whatsoever by schools.
“They are important because they will allow us to report on the national picture throughout the Autumn so that parents, the sector and the government get a rounded and independent picture of how education is getting back on its feet.
“As part of our preparation for the autumn term, we are working hard to train and support Her Majesty’s Inspectors as they prepare for visits , and we’ve had open and constructive conversations with all the relevant unions.”
The inspectorate has said that part of the focus will be on the provision of “blended learning” - the mix of on-site and remote education schools provide.
The visits will not be graded, but the outcomes of discussions with school leaders will be published in a letter so that parents can understand what steps are being taken to help children back into full-time education, Ofsted has said.
The plan for a published letter with details about each school has angered school leaders’ unions and school governors who have warned that this will make the process feel like inspection and add to the pressure on schools trying to manage the safe return to full time education.
The inspectorate has also said these visits are not compliance checks on how well schools are meeting government guidelines for returning to full-time education for all pupils following the Covid-19 lockdown that resulted in schools closing to most pupils in March.
