Outstanding schools ‘coasting’
SCHOOLS rated “outstanding” may be coasting towards mediocrity because Ofsted has not inspected hundreds of them for more than a decade, the watchdog’s own executives have admitted.
The schools inspectorate last night urged the Government to lift an exemption for top-rated schools which enables them to go “forever” without a full inspection, warning that some may have let standards plummet. Amanda Spielman, HM chief inspector, is now petitioning Damian Hinds, the Education Secretary, to amend regulations to enable Ofsted to routinely visit “outstanding” schools.
The National Audit Office today publishes a critical report, claiming the schools watchdog has failed to demonstrate value for money.
The report warns that cuts may have affected Ofsted’s ability to meet targets, and claims the introduction of shorter, one-day inspections and an
exemption for those that are top-rated provides “less assurance” for parents and insufficient feedback for teachers.
The regulations exempting outstanding schools from the Ofsted regime were introduced seven years ago, despite resistance from Sir Michael Wilshaw, the former chief inspector.
Now, in the latest sign that Ofsted is preparing to clash with ministers, its senior executives have warned they are at their “limit” and that trust in the system is being eroded. They point out that some schools have not been inspected for up to 12 years, while 296 have not been visit for a decade, rising to 1,570 over a six-year period.
Luke Tryl, Ofsted’s director of corporate strategy, warned that the issue was “one of the biggest factors undermining confidence” in the organisation.
He said that “we cannot tell if the school’s education, which was outstanding 10 years ago, is now mediocre … coasting or middling”.
Sean Harford, Ofsted’s national director of education, said: “We know parents would like at least one inspection during their child’s time at school. To be clear, the exemption is not for 10 years, it is an exemption forever.”
While Ofsted inspects outstanding schools if concerns are raised, the watchdog warns that issues with curriculum and school culture may go under the radar.
Critics also point to times where “outstanding” schools have rapidly deteriorated to “inadequate” as evidence that the system is flawed.
They include Barton Clough Primary School in Manchester, which fell two ratings last year, and Stockport college, which was rated outstanding in 2008 but has since received three inadequate ratings.
Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said: “If Ofsted has reason to believe a school is no longer meeting its previous high standards, we would expect it to use its powers to carry out a full inspection – this has always been the case – and remains so.”