"Outstanding" schools face re-inspection
Schools given an overall "outstanding" rating at their last inspection face being re-examined if their teaching standards did not receive the highest grade. The new chief inspector of schools in England, Sir Michael Wilshaw, told head teachers that radical improvements will be needed to the education system. Speaking on TV and radio, Sir Michael has said that the new Ofsted inspection framework will "focus on what really matters - the quality of teaching".
The teaching unions have responded briskly, arguing that Sir Michael's remarks undermine the value of every Ofsted inspection that has been carried out and leaves parents with nothing to rely on when choosing a school. In addition, it appears to make nonsense of a good report from Ofsted being amongst the criteria taken into account when schools apply to become academies. The deputy general secretary of the head teachers' association ASCL, Malcolm Trobe, said that this is "damaging and demoralising dedicated professionals". The ASCL has also said that "inspection based on threats and intimidation will not raise standards".
Other planned changes to the inspection system are being set out in a consultation paper being published on 9 February 2012, amongst which is a move to inspections being carried out without notifying a school in advance.