Former Ofsted Senior HMI discusses results from the “Alternative Big Listen” at the Schools North East AGM
Last week we welcomed representatives from our 750 Partner Schools and Trusts to our Annual General Meeting, where the ‘formal’ business of Schools North East the charity takes place. Amidst the election and re-election of Trustees and the ratifying of annual accounts we also reflect on the past academic year, and look ahead to possible future challenges as well as exciting opportunities.
This year, we were fortunate enough to be joined by our AGM keynote speaker Frank Norris MBE FCCT, a former Ofsted Senior HMI who was the driving force behind the “Alternative Big Listen”, which aimed to present a fuller picture of the current inspectorate and inspection framework than some would argue the official Ofsted “Big Listen” did.
As Ofsted and inspection reform will be a significant focus this academic year, this presented an excellent opportunity to reflect and debate the current state of affairs and what the future might hold.
If you want to learn more about this in more detail, listen to the full episode on The Schools North East Podcast. Here is a whistle stop tour of some of the ground covered in his keynote:
Challenges with Ofsted’s inspection framework
Mr Norris voiced strong criticism of the recent Ofsted “The Big Listen” survey, feeling very strongly that it was ‘failing to ask the right questions’ that would allow a proper evaluation of the effectiveness of the inspection framework.
In response to this perceived failure, he, along with his colleague Professor Colin Richards, launched the “The Alternative Big Listen” to address the survey’s shortcomings and uncover the real concerns that school leaders have when it comes to inspections.
Their findings were certainly controversial and pulled no punches. Their alternative survey revealed that 90 percent of respondents believed Ofsted was not fit for purpose. Mr Norris also argued that the current Chief Inspector lacks the experience for the role of HMCI, having never inspected schools prior to taking up the role, and that the overall quality of ofsted inspectors has declined due to reduced funding, government-imposed targets, and loss of experienced HMIs.
Historical context and quality of inspectors
Mr Norris recounted his own experience with inspection training, emphasising the importance of mentorship and in-depth induction for new inspectors. He compared his own training with the current process, which he believes is insufficient and leads to relying on inspectors that lack the necessary experience to effectively judge schools and senior leaders.
He argued that the quality of inspectors is crucial for the effectiveness of the inspection process, and that current practices are not meeting the necessary standard. He suggests that reducing the number of inspections and focusing on targeted, high-quality inspections could improve the overall process.
Future of school accountability and inspection
As it stands, the future of Ofsted inspections is certainly looking different – and only time will tell whether this difference is positive or not for North East schools.
Mr Norris outlined his vision for the future of school accountability and inspection, highlighting the need for an honest discussion about the current framework’s effectiveness. He asserts that Ofsted should focus on inspecting outcomes rather than falling into the trap of developing ‘School Report Cards’ , where they will create something to ‘mark their own homework’.
In a recent survey conducted by Schools North East, 84 percent of school leaders supported the removal of single headline grades, arguing that they do not reflect the full scope of a school’s performance and put undue pressure on staff.
Yet, despite the pressure and challenges, 92 percent of North East schools are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted — which is the second-highest in the country — and they consistently lead in outcomes for long-term disadvantaged students.
While there was indeed support for these seismic changes to the framework, some within the survey expressed uncertainty about what would replace these grades and whether new judgement criteria, such as the School Report Cards, might merely continue the same high-stakes pressure system that currently exists.
The DfE must engage with professional bodies, parents, and businesses in developing the new framework to ensure it is fit for purpose, Mr Norris suggested. He stressed the importance of regional involvement and the need for a collaborative approach to developing and implementing the new framework.
Listen to Mr Norris’s episode on The Schools North East Podcast
In episode nine of The Schools North East Podcast, he also touches upon further critical points such as the impact of context on school performance, and proposed changes to inspection and accountability.
Listen to the full episode here.
Join us at our upcoming annual Schools North East Ofsted Update events where we will welcome Katrina Gueli, Regional Director for the North East, Yorkshire & Humber.
Katrina Gueli will provide an overview of updates and changes to the Ofsted framework that have occurred over the past academic year, offering valuable insights into what these changes mean for your school. This autumn term event is also your opportunity to hear firsthand from school leaders across the region as they share their recent Ofsted experiences.
Live Q&A Session:
Take advantage of the live Q&A session with Katrina, where you can pose your questions directly to Ofsted. Questions can be asked in person or submitted anonymously via Slido or your booking form.