Ofsted considering ‘no-notice’ school inspections
Ofsted’s chief inspector has revived the controversial idea of carrying out no notice inspections of schools.
Amanda Spielman was responding to a YouGov survey, published by Ofsted last week, which found that 61% of parents supported unannounced visits to schools by the education watchdog.
Ms Spielman is the third Ofsted chief in a row to consider no-notice inspections.
In 2009 the then chief schools inspector, Christine Gilbert, abandoned plans because of parental concerns that they would not be able to make their views known before an inspection.
In 2012 Sir Michael Wilshaw relented on plans for no-notice inspections after logistical concerns were raised by heads.
Instead Ofsted moved to a system of ‘almost no notice’ where schools are told an afternoon before a visit.
Now the new Yougov poll suggests the majority of parents support the idea of unannounced inspections.
Ms Spielman said Ofsted wanted to ensure that inspectors are seeing a true picture of the schools they inspect.
Speaking to the TES, she said: “We are trying to find that balance, of making sure schools aren’t completely caught on the hop, and you don’t turn up to inspect on a day where the headteacher is out of school, where the chair of governors is on holiday and where you can’t have the right conversations.
“It is balancing that with making sure you get a school as it actually operates with all of the children who are normally there so that you get a true picture of behaviour and the school culture.”
Read the full article in the Tes.