At Ofsted we’re very conscious of all of the modifications going down within the sector and admire that there are challenges forward. I do know Space Critiques and apprenticeships reforms are uppermost in lots of minds.
However I’d wish to guarantee everybody that we’re frequently working with the sector and authorities to make sure our inspection observe and handbooks mirror the modifications being made.
We’ve made just a few changes to the inspection handbook that got here into impact this September, which have arisen from wider authorities or Ofsted coverage modifications.
Crucially not one of the amendments affect on the way in which wherein we attain our inspection judgements.
Key modifications at a look
All through the handbook there’s some minor modifying, updating and clarification.
Paragraph 15 of the handbook has been added to make clear that the inspections that newly merged schools obtain inside three years of a merger shall be full inspections and apply to any sort of merger between schools. The school gained’t be graded till it’s had its full inspection.
Paragraphs and pages within the handbook have been amended to elucidate:
- sixteen to 19 academies/free faculties which are re-brokered for efficiency causes, and are being handled as a brand new 16 to 19 academy, shall be regarded from the purpose of re-brokerage as a brand new supplier for the needs of inspection – in paragraph 16
- that any newly merged school or different supplier thought-about as a brand new supplier might obtain a monitoring go to or a assist and problem go to to evaluate danger. Threat considerations arising from this, or different sources, might end in an earlier full inspection – in paragraph 17
- sixth kind schools changing to 16 to 19 academies shall be inspected in accordance with their most up-to-date general effectiveness grade as a sixth kind school – on web page 7, footnote 7
- assist and problem visits could also be carried out to newly merged suppliers or different suppliers being handled as a brand new supplier.
- Ofsted may even perform these visits to evaluation new full-time school provision for 14- to 16-year-olds – paragraph 31
- that the scope of Ofsted inspection contains loans-only funded suppliers – paragraph 33
- that sub-contractors may be topic to inspection – paragraph 36
- there’s additional clarification on preparations about inspection of non secular schooling and collective worship in Catholic sixth kind schools – paragraph 40
- that the inspection staff will, wherever potential, meet with a scholar consultant – paragraph 77
- that inspector expectations round lesson plans and planning paperwork – paragraph 83
There’s minor modifying of apprenticeship standards and grade descriptors to make sure that they absolutely match with each apprenticeship frameworks and requirements from paragraph 188 onwards.
Different modifications to notice are these ensuing from our survey report ‘How nicely are additional schooling and abilities suppliers implementing the ‘Forestall’ obligation?’ which was printed in July. From this September we’ve be raised our expectations of suppliers to implement all facets of the ‘Forestall’ obligation. And we’ll be evaluating the affect this has on holding learners secure.
As the brand new time period will get really underway there are nonetheless some myths which are circulating about what inspectors will search for, which I’d wish to debunk.
It’s not true that inspectors will…
- prescribe any explicit type – we all know that various things work for various lecturers and trainers. Inspectors are solely concerned about how a lot progress college students make
- need to see lesson plans – inspectors will choose general how nicely classes are deliberate, however aren’t within the particular type of that planning. They’ll consider the affect of the planning, not the paperwork
- anticipate all facets of equality and variety to be promoted as express options in each lesson – inspectors need proof that, throughout a scholar’s time at school, they are going to profit from equality of alternative and that they be taught in regards to the advanced multicultural world they’ll reside and work in
- regard English, arithmetic and work expertise as limiting grades on examine programmes – these aren’t thought-about limiting grades
- anticipate work and duties in all classes to be tailor-made to fulfill every scholar’s particular person skills – that is an unrealistic expectation. Nonetheless, inspectors do anticipate that lecturers be sure that all college students, all through their course, have alternatives to fulfil their potential, no matter their beginning factors or skills
- anticipate to see data and studying know-how (ILT) being utilized in each lesson – inspectors, like lecturers, see the potential affect on college students’ studying of using ILT, however on the identical time see no explicit profit from using ILT as an finish in itself.
- anticipate all lecturers to be noticed and graded by their schools, to tell self-assessment and employees coaching – it’s fully as much as school leaders what mechanisms they use to enhance the standard of instructing.
