Many of the causes of concern for teacher and education professionals are generated by the toxic accountability culture of which Ofsted is a key proponent.
The Headteachers’ Roundtable has agreed to formally request all school-based employees to resign as Ofsted Additional Inspectors, with immediate effect.
In response, the Leadership Council of the National Education Union has pledged its support of the #PauseOfsted campaign and is advising NEU members not to work for Ofsted as additional inspectors.
It is time to take back our pride and professionalism. It is time for an independent inspectorate which is both trustworthy and trusted by teachers and leaders. It is time to radically reform Ofsted. It is time to take decisive action against Ofsted. Our union supports ethical leadership and we call upon our members who are additional inspectors to stop working for Ofsted.
The new Ofsted framework puts the curriculum centre stage of Ofsted inspections. The National Education Union (NEU) thinks that the new framework has been badly prepared, with poor research, inadequate internal scrutiny and an unrealistic timetable for implementation.
The NEU has produced new guidance on Ofsted that we think will help members and leaders dealing with inspections in their schools.
Members should share the guidance with their heads and suggest that this issue be discussed in staff meetings. If you are a school leader, in a school where teachers have cross-school subject responsibilities without TLRs or non-contact time, please see the school leaders' guidance.
If you would like to share your experience of the new framework with Ofsted, please contact us using the Ofsted framework feedback form. We are particularly interested in how the new framework is impacting on your workload, especially if you have whole school subject responsibilities.
The new Ofsted inspection framework is putting increasing pressure on members, particularly primary subject leaders and this is due to problems with school funding and staff recruitment which the new framework does not take into account.
The new Ofsted inspection framework is focused on the quality of the school’s curriculum, and as a school leader, you have difficult decisions to make to balance staffing with budget in your school.
Myths and misunderstandings around appraisal, assessment and OFSTED
As the union with the second largest leadership membership, the NEU supports Ethical Leadership and call on members who are additional inspectors to stop working for Ofsted.
NEU has released guidance advising members of their rights during “brutal” Ofsted inspections. The guidance advises members on their contractual responsibilities in light of the new framework.
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, National Education Union, has commented on the Chief Inspector of Ofsted’s admission that focus on data has been a major factor in schools becoming exam factories.
Rosamund McNeil, assistant general secretary of the National Education Union has commented on Teacher wellbeing at work in schools and further education providers, published today by Ofsted.
Warwick Mansell takes a look at some of the contentious ideas about knowledge that appear to be guiding Ofsted’s view of the curriculum.
The NEU welcomes Labour’s announcement that it will abolish Ofsted. Labour’s proposal to abolish an overall school grade is long overdue. Schools are too complex to be reduced to a single grade.
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary NEU has commented on the launch of Ofsted’s consultation on how it inspects schools, early years settings and further education and skills providers.
The National Education Union has long been concerned that unnecessary practices surrounding marking, planning, and data collection in schools, is having a significant impact on teacher workload.
Commenting on Ofsted’s education inspection framework consultation which closes today, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
The National Education Union believes the current school inspection system is not fit for purpose. There is an inconsistent approach to the use of data and the approach taken by inspectors, and serious concerns about the quality of inspectors.
Commenting on the new inspection arrangements for Ofsted, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Ofsted is not proposing to abandon data as a key factor in its inspection judgements."
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on the release of the Ofsted Annual Report
Commenting on the latest Government analysis, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
