Commenting on the education secretary's announcement that Ofsted school inspections are set to be overhauled for the second time in a year, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Ofsted isn’t fit for purpose. Teachers, support staff and school leaders have suffered under a system that presents a real threat to life, one which has driven thousands out of the classroom as a result of anxiety and unnecessary high stakes, grade-based accountability.
"We welcome the government’s commitment to urgent relief from the pressure inflicted by the new Ofsted framework and will work with Lucy Powell on this. The framework has failed in its own terms and is widely discredited.
"Our survey of members on the impact of Ofsted inspections revealed chilling levels of stress and anxiety amongst school staff, particularly school leaders.
"Staff and pupils deserve an accountability system that works for all to support schools in providing the first class education pupils deserve. While dialogue continues at national level, school staff can protect themselves from the impact of Ofsted by using our risk assessment.