One of the things that recent events bring into sharp relief is how the system deals with schools that have been in difficulties for some time. Rarely does a school change from (and I make no apologies for using the Ofsted designations – that’s the system we work within) Outstanding to Inadequate overnight. Where they… Read More Time for more tables
The hangovers are slowly starting to fade and the bunting is being taken down. The celebrations that followed the great victory over the Ofsted steamroller have been, well, if not exactly epic then they haven’t been totally subdued either. As the last few lager cans are swept from the gutter I think it might be time to ask… Read More Making the grade (up)
Policy exchange published their report on Ofsted today to almost universal positive acclaim. I broadly agree with the report with one or two exceptions. The main one is the suggestion that lesson observations would continue for the longer in-depth inspections. It seems strange to me that having effectively trashed the case for having observations this… Read More Another blog about the Policy Exchange Ofsted report? Don’t mind if I do, squire.
It may be a bit early to put out the bunting and close the street ready for the party, but there does appear to be a growing, and widely drawn consensus that at the very least Ofsted should no longer grade individual lessons. This view extends across the spectrum of education opinion, from members of… Read More A quick check in the mirrors before we signal the end of Ofsted observations.
In a speech today Sir Michael Wilshaw has accused independent schools of offering students in the maintained sector “crumbs off their tables”. He went on to call on independents to support their local schools and dispel the perception that they “do not care about the educational world beyond their cloisters and quads”. He attacked his audience, the… Read More Go on, Sir Michael, give it to those toffee-nosed, charity-fiddling independent school snobs!
WARNING. Contains Maths. Lets see if we can agree on a couple of things. It is possible for one professional to assess if another professional is meeting the standards of their shared profession for a particular task. Make a judgement, if you will. The professional making the judgement would have to be experienced and preferably… Read More Lies, damn lies and lesson observation judgements
Ofsted state that the purpose of school inspection is to provide.. an independent external evaluation of its effectiveness and a diagnosis of what it should do to improve. I want to ask a very simple question. “What information are Ofsted getting out of observing lessons that they can’t get in other ways?” We are literally… Read More Why Ofsted shouldn’t observe lessons
Distant Ramblings on the Horizon 