Ofsted proposes changes to short inspections
A full inspection would be completed within a maximum of 15 working days when a short inspection converts, whilst around 20% of good schools would automatically receive full inspections.
On Thursday, Ofsted launched a consultation on new proposals to “improve the short inspection model” and “make the conversion process more manageable for all involved”.
Short inspections were introduced in September 2015 for schools previously judged to be good. They last for just one day and, in most cases, the inspectors are satisfied that the school remains good. However, around a third of short inspections are converted to full inspections. This happens when the lead inspector decides that the school may no longer be good. Within 48 hours, a team of inspectors arrives to collect more evidence and reach a final decision.
However, Ofsted has found the 48-hour conversion period challenging because it means that inspection schedules often change at the last minute, standing inspectors down at short notice. They have also noted that school leaders find the current experience of conversion “overwhelming”. Finally, they say that “in about 20% of cases, before a short inspection takes place it is already clear that a school is facing complex circumstances that warrant a full inspection”.
Ofsted is therefore proposing two operational changes:
- When a short inspection converts, the full inspection will be completed within a maximum of 15 working days, rather than 48 hours.
- A full inspection will automatically take place in around 1 in 5 cases where Ofsted has prior evidence that a school is in complex circumstances.
These changes are being piloted in around 35 schools this term. If the proposals are accepted, it is expected that the changes will take effect immediately after the October half term this year.
What do you think?
The consultation is open for around 2 months and will close at 11:30pm on 18 August 2017. As always, if you have a strong opinion on these proposals, we would encourage you to submit your own response to the consultation. You can do so here.
SCHOOLS NorthEast is also interested in hearing your views, so that you can inform the response that we will be submitting on behalf of North East schools. If you would like to contribute to our response, please contact our Policy Officer, Tom Sedgwick (t.sedgwick@schoolsnortheast.com).