6th January 2010

Let's Put Ofsted Into Special Measures

The new Ofsted inspection framework is causing real problems in schools. 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 and that is why, on January 13th, local officers in Leicester will be joining our colleagues from Leicestershire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to lobby the Ofsted Offices in Nottingham.

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.


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