Replace Ofsted
Teachers and leaders work under the shadow cast by Ofsted. An unfair and unreliable inspectorate.
Advice
Ofsted inspection - advice for school leaders in England
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.
Ofsted inspection - advice for members on the main or upper pay range
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.
Blog
Ofsted is a huge cloud constantly hanging overhead.
NEU Leadership member Phillipa Kearns describes working at the chalkface whilst the daily worry of receiving ‘the call’ looms large.
An alternative to high-stakes inspection.
Ken Johnson, NEU Leadership member and head teacher, sets out his thoughts on an alternative to the toxic Ofsted inspection system.
Ofsted are pushing staff over the edge.
Head teacher John Hayes describes how unnecessarily gruelling Ofsted processes are pushing staff, heads and senior leaders to breaking point.
Ofsted cannot decide what ‘good teaching’ is.
NEU Leadership member John Connolly explains why the system of school inspection must change urgently to work to support schools.
The lack of support from Ofsted has been stark
Chris Dutton’s experience as a school leader during the pandemic shows that now is the time for a new inspection framework.
Ofsted: not fit for purpose.
Head teacher Cathy Earley shines a light on the startling gaps in Ofsted inspector expertise.
Ofsted: leave us to get on with it
Our motivation doesn’t come from Ofsted grades and we waste precious time thinking about them
Ofsted’s misuse of research should be seen as a national scandal
Education journalist Warwick Mansell examines evidence that Ofsted has misused education research
Ofsted is marking its own homework
Dr. Kevin Proudfoot, Senior Lecturer in education at the University of Glasgow, shines a light on Ofsted’s lack of accountability
Inspections are more or less entirely ‘done to’ schools
Ryan Wilson, author of Let That Be A Lesson: A Teacher’s Life in the Classroom, explores the impact of Ofsted’s ineffectiveness in the workplace.
Do Ofsted inspections prevent sustainable improvement in ‘stuck’ schools?
Dr. Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the NEU, interrogates the latest research on ‘stuck’ schools
Ofsted’s role as enforcer of academisation
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the NEU, highlights the inspectorate’s critical role in forced academisation
Ofsted still causes more harm than good
The evidence continues to mount that Ofsted causes much more harm than good.
Ofsted – education inspection framework (EIF)
From September 2019, Ofsted will introduce its education inspection framework (EIF) to, “refocus inspections of schools, early years settings and further education and skills providers, to make sure that learners are receiving a high-quality education that puts them on a path to future success”.
Why is Ofsted venturing so far into the detail of cognitive science?
Warwick Mansell takes a look at some of the contentious ideas about knowledge that appear to be guiding Ofsted’s view of the curriculum.
Press release
EPI/UCL-IOE on Underperforming Schools
The report makes a number of important conclusions. As the Education Bill makes its way through the legislative process, Ministers must review the impact of academisation on primary schools.
30 years of Ofsted
Teachers across England mark 30 years of Ofsted with hand delivered 'unhappy' birthday cards
Value Education, Value Educators
Comment on the passing of Motion 47 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union
Replace Ofsted campaign launch
Today, the National Education Union (NEU) has launched a new accountability campaign and national petition calling for the replacement of Ofsted with a new approach to school and college evaluation which is supportive, effective and fair.
NEU comment on Ofsted motion at Annual Conference
Comment on the passing of Motion 5 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union
State of Education: Ofsted
School inspection and Ofsted’s credibility gap
Ofsted use of 2022 SATs and GCSE results
NEU comment on the use of 2022 SATs and GCSE results by Ofsted
UCL research into the teaching of reading
The report adds to the case for abolishing the phonics check and for stepping back from Ofsted’s enforcement of a single approach to the teaching of reading.
Data on School Inspections
Routine inspections have been an unnecessary distraction during this term. Government has recognised this and has at least paused inspections until January, but they must go further.
Education unions call for a pause to routine Ofsted inspections
Education unions call for pause to resumption of routine Ofsted inspections until after February half term.
Teacher Training Census
Successive Conservative governments have fallen short of their own teacher training targets year on year. 2021 is no different.
Ofsted Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges
Sexual harassment is still trivialised and normalised throughout society, and we urgently need to boost the focus around both preventing and responding to the sexual harassment.
Abolish Ofsted and League Tables
Ofsted is not an agent of change. It is a blunt instrument – a wholly negative presence in schools, never offering constructive advice.
Stop Toxic Testing
Today, the Union has set out the measures government should take to learn from the failures of the past and to open up our narrow, test-driven and restrictive education system so that it benefits all learners, from the early years to adulthood.
UCL on School Accountability and Stress
The UCL analysis also highlights cases of schools where stress caused by accountability is higher than in others.
Ofsted Inspections
NEU is pleased that Ofsted has shown sense and further delayed its on-site inspections.
Ofsted Report: November
Chief Inspector recognises the work of school leaders in the face of the pandemic but needs to go further to best stand up for schools.
Ofsted suspends inspections
This announcement is as welcome as it is overdue. Schools are operating in extraordinary circumstances and must be able to focus on what is essential.
Estyn Suspends Activities in Wales
Scotland and Wales have shown England the way. It is unacceptable for Ofsted inspections to be taking place at a time of national emergency.
NEU backs #PauseOfsted campaign
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.
Ofsted Report 2020
Ofsted has neither the personnel, the expertise nor the experience, to operate its new curriculum-focused inspection framework fairly, so that reliable results are made on schools and colleges.
Conservative plans for Ofsted
The NEU comments on latest Conservative Ofsted pledge.
New Ofsted Framework
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.
Labour Party Manifesto
The NEU asked each party to value education and make pledges on funding and the Labour party has met our tests. Labour’s manifesto demonstrates an understanding that schools alone cannot counter the drastic and long-lasting impacts of poverty and class inequality in wider society.
Liberal Democrats Manifesto
NEU welcomes the the Liberal Democrats commitment to abolish primary SATs testing. These tests, beloved of the Government, cause enormous stress and narrowing of the curriculum – they do not produce useful information for teachers.
Green Party Manifesto
The Green Party’s pledge to end centrally-imposed testing and Ofsted inspections is a welcome recognition of the pressures high-stakes accountability places on schools, narrowing the curriculum and driving teachers out of the profession.
Labour to abolish Ofsted
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.
Ofsted Report 2019
Commenting on Ofsted’s Annual Report and Accounts 2018-19, published today, Andrew Morris, Assistant General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
DfE analysis of 'good' and 'outstanding' schools
Commenting on the latest Government analysis, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Ofsted’s New Inspection Arrangements
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."
NEU comment on Ofsted consultation
Commenting on Ofsted’s education inspection framework consultation which closes today, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
William Torbitt Primary School
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education comments on the decision by the Department for Education to lift its academy order against William Torbitt Primary School in Redbridge.
Ofsted annual report - 2017
Kevin Courtney comments on the Ofsted Annual Report, presented today by its Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman.
NEU workload survey: DfE and Ofsted need to do much more to reduce teacher workload
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.
Ofsted Chief outlines changes to education inspection 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.
Ofsted consultation on changes to education inspection framework
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.
EPI on Childcare Workers
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary NEU has commented on new research from the Education Policy Institute, analysing the childcare workforce in England.
Public Accounts Committee report into Ofsted raises significant concerns
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.
Government reforms failing to tackle inequality
A UCL report on social mobility confirms what the NEU has been warning about for some years, says Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union.
NEU comment on pupils being excluded from schools in England
The Education Committee report highlights the exclusion of pupils from schools in England - Comment by Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union.