Changes to inspection processes, a revised complaints procedure and new wellbeing investment from government, are part of a package of measures being announced following a wide-ranging debate about the impact of school inspections.
Revisions to school inspections will see inspectors return more quickly to schools graded inadequate where this is only due to ineffective safeguarding, and proposed changes to Ofsted's complaints process will increase transparency and make it easier for schools to raise concerns.
The Department for Education (DfE) already funds the charity Education Support, to provide wellbeing help for school leaders, and that programme will now be doubled in size to support an additional 500 heads by March 2024. In the longer term, the DfE commits to further expand its mental health and wellbeing offer beyond March 2024.
In April, Ofsted's Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman made a statement broadly setting out some changes Ofsted was considering making to inspections. Since then, we have been in regular discussion with union leaders, other sector representatives and the DfE about a package of measures to improve aspects of our work with schools.
Today we are able to announce more about these changes, many of which will take effect immediately, with the rest introduced from September this year:
Inspecting safeguarding
Inspectors will now return more quickly to schools graded inadequate overall due to ineffective safeguarding, but where all other judgements were good or better. We will return within 3 months of an inspection report being published, and parents will be informed of this intention in the report. If the school has been able to resolve the safeguarding concerns it is likely to see its overall grade improve.
From September, we will offer schools greater clarity about the threshold for effective versus ineffective safeguarding through our inspection handbook, as well as regular blogs and webinars. We will also describe ineffective safeguarding more clearly in inspection reports, to help reassure parents and others that these judgements are not made lightly.
Complaints
We are today launching a formal consultation on significant changes to the complaints system, aimed at resolving complaints more quickly through improved dialogue between Ofsted and providers, reducing the administrative burden on those making a complaint, and increasing transparency in the process.
Read the consultation proposals and have your say.
Information for schools
As set out in a blog post published today, we are giving schools more information about the broad timing of their next inspection. Schools will still get one day's notice of an inspection, but the blog gives more clarity about the year they are likely to be inspected. This will be particularly helpful for schools that have been exempt from inspection for many years. We are also continuing to engage with all outstanding schools that were last inspected before September 2015 through face-to-face seminars with inspectors.
Inspectors will be clear that it is up to a headteacher to decide which colleagues, or others, they share their inspection outcome with - being aware that judgements are provisional until the report is finalised. Provisional outcomes can sometimes change and shouldn't be published or shared with parents until finalised. This will also now be set out in the covering letter that accompanies draft inspection reports.
From September, when discussing areas of weakness, inspection reports will refer to 'the school' by default, rather than individuals. The contextual information at the end of reports will also be amended to list all those with responsibility for the school.
Amanda Spielman said:
When we inspect schools our priority must always be children's education and wellbeing - but at the same time we want to make sure inspection is as positive an experience for school staff as it can be. Since the sad death of Ruth Perry, there has been considerable debate around Ofsted's work and I want to reassure people that we are listening to their concerns, and thinking carefully about how we can revise aspects of our work without losing our clear focus on the needs of children and their parents.
We have listened to many voices in this debate. I'm particularly grateful to union leaders, other sector representatives and the Secretary of State for the constructive discussions we've had over the last couple of months, which have helped us with this package of measures.
Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education said:
Ofsted is central to this government's success in raising school standards, and it is right it continues to evolve.
We must ensure our school leaders have the support they need, which is why today we are significantly expanding our wellbeing support. This expansion will help make sure head teachers have access to support whenever they need it.
Taken together, today's announcements are a really important step. I have committed to continuing our work on improving the way we inspect our schools with Ofsted and the family of Ruth Perry following her tragic death.
