Stopping or preventing school inspections in England would be against the “best interests of children,” according to the chief inspector of Ofsted.
Teachers have requested a halt after headteacher Ruth Perry committed suicide while awaiting a report that would denigrate her school.
In response to the clamor following her passing, some teachers wore black armbands during inspections as a tribute to her.
Amanda Spielman stated that school and parent inspections are essential.
Ms. Spielman stated that the debate regarding reforming inspections to eliminate letter grades was “legitimate,” but that “any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs of both parents and the government.”
Ofsted inspectors rate English schools as either outstanding, excellent, requiring improvement, or inadequate under the current system.
These ratings, according to Ms. Spielman, “provide parents with an easily digestible summary of a school’s strengths and weaknesses.”
However, Paul Gosling, president of the National Association of Head Teachers, stated that one-word summaries of school life are too simplistic.
The death of Ms. Perry was a “direct result” of the pressure induced by the school inspection, according to her family.
Lisa Telling, a Reading principal who knew Ms. Perry well, stated that she was under “extreme stress” and that she “knew the results of her report but was unable to inform her staff.”
“When you receive your final grade and feedback as a principal, the system does not presently permit you to share that information. “This is a crucial piece of information to retain,” she said.
As long as they are marked as confidential and subject to change, school administrators may share the provisional findings of inspections with those responsible for the governance of the school, according to the Ofsted handbook.
Mrs. Telling stated that Ms. Perry was unable to discuss the “world-destroying” verdict for 54 days before her passing.
Mr. Gosling stated that school leaders should be able to discuss Ofsted results with “a variety of people who may be able to assist them.”
Since the passing of Ms. Perry, some principals have removed references to Ofsted from their websites, job advertisements, and letters.
And on Thursday, the National Education Union presented the government with a petition demanding the replacement of Ofsted.
In Reading, organizations of principals have written to the government requesting an immediate review of the system.
Ms. Spielman stated that it would be improper to reveal too much before the coroner’s investigation.
“Our school inspectors are all current or former school administrators,” she continued. They recognize the importance of principals’ duties and the pressures they face.
Ms. Spielman acknowledged that inspections “can be difficult” but stated that inspectors always strive to conduct them “sensitively and professionally.”
However, school enhancement consultant Julie Price-Grimshaw stated that this was “absolutely not the case.”
She told that examinations were causing many principals to become “very ill, stressed, and have breakdowns.”
Ms. Price-Grimshaw, a former Ofsted inspector, stated that “teachers and principals cannot raise standards if they feel broken, demoralized, stressed, and anxious.”
During a recent visit, however, a vice-principal at a secondary school in West Yorkshire reported that Ofsted inspectors “came across as human and had collaborative conversations with staff.”
He stated that the inspection process was “intense and extremely stressful,” but that the outcome was an “honest reflection of where our school is at the moment.”
Ms. Spielman stated that Ofsted aimed to “make inspections as collaborative and constructive as possible” and would continue to concentrate on enhancing its relationship with schools and “how inspections feel for school staff.”
She acknowledged that it was a challenging time to be a principal, especially since the pandemic, as absences were high, mental health issues had increased, and “external support services are unable to meet increased demand.
Ofsted plays a crucial role in upholding education standards and ensuring children’s safety in school, according to a Department of Education official: “They provide independent, up-to-date evaluations on the quality of education, safeguarding, and leadership, which parents rely on to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child.”
A spokesperson for the prime minister added, “We are confident that the current rating system provides parents with the appropriate level of transparency.”
