Parents have joined forces to write to Ofsted to show support for teachers and school staff for their work during the pandemic after the government said parents could report schools to Ofsted over their remote learning provision.
On Wednesday, education secretary Gavin Williamson told the House of Commons that parents could report their child’s school to the inspectorate if they were unhappy with the remote learning offer.
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The comment provoked frustration from headteachers, with Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, accusing the government of “threatening” schools and saying this was “nothing short of disgraceful”.
Now families have taken to social media to express their gratitude and support for teachers and schools.
Coronavirus school closures: Parents show support for teachers
One school consultant asked parents who were happy with their child’s remote learning provision to tweet about it, tagging Ofsted in their replies.
**PARENTS** If you are happy with your child’s school, please tell them! While you’re at it, tag in @Ofstednews and tell them too! Schools don’t need enemies with a leader like @GavinWilliamson. They need that support right now!
- DeputyMitchell (@DeputyMitchell) January 7, 2021
Parents responded by lavishing praise on their children’s schools, citing how quickly schools had set up work on short notice following the lockdown.
@HLC_Primary are amazing!! Their response to the lockdown has been amazing! They have been quick to set some great work for my child which is focused on what they had planned for this term and I can see she will not miss out on any of her learning ? well done to all the staff! X
- Rebecca Pollard (@Bexxybrown) January 7, 2021
J: I wrote to @Ofstednews today praising my two children’s schools asking for them to escalate it in the same way a complaint or safeguarding concern would be. I hope it is shared with @GavinWilliamson and @educationgovuk as I have also rated their performance since March 2020.
- Em14Jay (@EmmiNJay) January 7, 2021
Parent Antonia Cosgrove said teachers at her children’s school - St Aidan’s CE Primary School in Merseyside - had gone “above and beyond” during the pandemic, working “tirelessly” to ensure that remote learning was in place.
@Staidansb is an amazing, caring school ALL the staff have gone above and beyond to keep our children safe throughout this pandemic. They have worked tirelessly uploading work, keeping in touch and communication is fantastic. They all need a medal ? ?. @Ofstednews
- Antonia Cosgrove (@AntoniaCosgrov3) January 7, 2021
And Gemma Hope said that her children’s school had been “nothing short of outstanding”, adding, “Schools need support, not the gov [sic] shifting their shortcomings onto them by encouraging complaints that they could have been more organised.”
@HighStPrimary have been nothing short of outstanding in their approach to all challenges presented by COVID-19. Schools need support, not the gov shifting their shortcomings onto them by encouraging complaints that they could have been more organised
- Gemma Hope (@Gemma_Hancox) January 8, 2021
I message my son’s teacher on a daily basis and SLT weekly to tell them how pleased we are at all they are doing for my child. Without them we wouldn’t be able to support our children in homeschooling . Teachers are invaluable.
- Katie Anderson (@KatieAn24409496) January 7, 2021
Teachers’ loved ones got involved, too, with Joshua Seigal posting a tongue-in-cheek message to Ofsted’s Twitter account, saying he would like to “report” his wife.
“She is a secondary school teacher and recently has been working from 8am to 10pm. I’m working from home and can see what an amazing job she and her colleagues are doing. Please get back to me and I’ll give you more details if you like,” he said.
Hello @Ofstednews, I’d like to report my wife. She is a secondary school teacher and recently has been working from 8am to 10pm. I’m working from home & can see what an amazing job she and her colleagues are doing. Please get back to me and I’ll give you more details if you like.
- Soshua Jeigal (@joshuaseigal) January 7, 2021
