FACING AN OFSTED INSPECTION

The NUT has been successful in gaining assurances from Ofsted on the new framework, particularly on the key issues of attainment and achievement and safeguarding.

SAFEGUARDING

On safeguarding, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert has confirmed that "safeguarding grades of satisfactory or good do not limit the overall effectiveness to those grades a school judged to be satisfactory in its safeguarding arrangements may still be judged to be outstanding". Some members had told us that, despite their school having met the statutory requirements for safeguarding, it had been downgraded to 'inadequate'. Ofsted are clear that such a judgement should not be made in those circumstances.

ATTAINMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT

 On attainment, Christine Gilbert has said: "A school may be judged to be outstanding if attainment is average, or even low, provided that learning and progress are outstanding all schools, whatever their circumstances, have the opportunity to be judged outstanding for their overall effectiveness There is nothing in the evaluation schedule or the guidance we have issued to inspectors which suggests otherwise." Members and school representatives should contact their division/association or their regional office if they do not think that inspectors are taking sufficient account of children's actual progress in their learning.

BULLYING BY OFSTED INSPECTORS
On reports of bullying behaviour by members of an inspection team,
Christine Gilbert insisted that "there is no place for offensive or aggressive behaviour".  She urged any teacher who had experienced what she characterised as "inappropriate conduct  during an inspection" to use Ofsted procedures to resolve it. If inspectors make inappropriate comments, or inappropriate demands for documentation when seeking evidence about compliance with requirements, your members should contact us," she said.

LESSON OBSERVATIONS,
Christine Gilbert has clarified that "judgements made through short observations can only relate to the part of the lesson observed and not to the quality of teaching in the lesson as a whole."

Some members have expressed concern about the use of short lesson observations for judgements of teaching quality.
Christine Gilbert responded that in cases where a series of observations of less than 20 minutes are made, a grade should only be given for what it is possible to evaluate. She gives as an example the effectiveness of support for pupils with special needs.

EVALUATING PUPIL BEHAVIOUR

Many members are concerned about inspectors evaluating pupil behaviour on the basis of the conduct of a single child within a classroom.
Christine Gilbert has said that inspectors should, "take care not to overemphasise the behaviour of one individual with an identified behavioural difficulty".

Christine Gilbert pointed out that inspectors should base their judgement on the school's documentary
evidence and pupils' and parents' views, combined with what is observed, conduct of inspections,  lesson observations,  judgements on behaviour.

FURTHER GUIDANCE

The new School Inspection Framework came into force in September 2009.
Full NUT guidance for members, including  head teacher members, is available on  www.teachers.org.uk.

This guidance summarises what the NUT's school group should do prior to an inspection.

NUT representatives are advised to convene a meeting of NUT members in the school to discuss the forthcoming inspection.

Key issues to discuss include:

The Ofsted staff questionnaire:

The decision to use the questionnaire rests with the head teacher. The Union believes that staff should complete it, highlighting the positive achievements of their school  and the pupils they teach.

Joint lesson observations involving  inspectors and head teachers:

Teachers have a right to refuse such observations. Where appropriate, head teachers will need to be reminded of that  right.

Lesson plans and classroom  observation

In the run-up to an inspection, members  may be faced with demands for additional lesson plans, increased
documentation  and more lesson  observations.

Such demands can lead toexcessive workload  and stress.

HEADTEACHERS

It is vital that head teachers understand that inspectors will seek to corroborate what the school says about itself in its 'SEF'. If the school says it carries out intricate and detailed planning, that is what inspectors will check. Conversely, if the school says it carries out economical, fit-for-purpose planning, again, that will form the basis of Ofsted's judgements.

NUT members will need to make sure that head teachers only ask for the minimum planning necessary as excessive planning will not only cause excessive workload but increase the possibility of a negative
judgement.

Prior briefing of staff by the inspection team

The head teacher should request from the inspection team a briefing meeting for staff, prior to inspection.

The conduct of inspections:

The conduct of inspections and the behaviour of inspectors should be monitored by members.

Information from the inspection process is vital if any complaint needs to be made.

The Ofsted complaints process

Ofsted has made it absolutely clear that a complaint by a school against unfair judgements or the conduct of inspectors will not be detrimental to the school. It is vital that the head teacher and the governing body complain in these circumstances.
 Members who feel that the inspection has been unfair should contact their local NUT representative as soon as possible.

 The new Inspection regime  continues to cause problems and the Union is attempting  to

address these problems through representations and planned meetings with Ofsted.

Members who are on the receiving end of OFSTED inspections and who suffer unjustified

criticisms or judgements are urged to report these to their Divisions or directly to the National Union. It is very  important that members do this.

 Schools and teachers are being made to jump through more hoops.

Judgements are being made that bear no relation to the real work going on in the school. Surely it is now time to kick Ofsted into the long grass!
Ofsted has to be the single most important factor in increasing teachers' workload and stress

Have you heard about...
• The teacher whose lesson was failed because her classroom door was propped open?
• The school in Leeds that was downgraded because their fence was too low?
• The school that was downgraded because they offered the Ofsted inspector a cup of coffee?
• The school that was failed because students could not "verbalise their target" ...in Reception?
• The nursery that was downgraded because a parent opened the door for the inspector?
• The teacher whose lesson was downgraded because she did not stick to her time plan?
• The school that was told to cancel Christmas because Ofsted were due to visit?

And there are many more examples like this, which show that Ofsted has nothing to do with supporting schools or developing teachers' skills. Let's make 2010 the year that we campaign to rid ourselves of the tyranny of Ofsted once and for all.

(Thnks to  Leicester NUT for these examples)