The inspections of schools and further education (FE) will resume on Jan. 22, Ofsted said on Friday.
Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) of education, children’s services, and skills, said it’s agreed that Jan. 22 “is the right date to restart school and FE inspections” and it “will allow all inspectors to begin the training ahead of then, and gives us time to make sure that every single lead inspector on a school or FE inspection, will have completed it.”
“Inspection plays a vital role in making sure that children and learners are getting the education and care they need and deserve. So we need to get back to that work as quickly as we can,” he said. “But I’ve also been very clear that we must reflect on the findings of the coroner, learn from the tragic events of last year, and emerge as a better and more effective inspectorate. That means being trusted by parents and respected by the education and social care professionals we work with,” he said, adding that the training is “a critical first step” in reassuring education sectors that the watchdog is “serious about change.”
Sir Martyn also announced that Ofsted will respond in full to the coroner’s recommendations on Jan. 19, “setting out clearly how Ofsted will conduct inspections with professionalism, courtesy, respect, and empathy,” Ofsted said.
Ms. Perry took her own life in January 2023 after her Reading school, Caversham Primary, was downgraded from “outstanding” to “inadequate.”
Coroner Heidi Connor found that an Ofsted inspection carried out in November 2022 had contributed to the headteacher’s suicide.
Friday’s announcement came as Sir Martyn and Ofsted Chair Dame Christine Ryan met with sector body and union leaders including Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), and Leora Cruddas, CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts.
Mr. Barton said he’s “encouraged” by the meeting, which provided “an opportunity to reflect on the concerns raised in the coroner’s report following the inquest into the death of Ruth Perry, discuss how relations between Ofsted and the profession can be reset, give reassurance to leaders that the resumption of inspection will not simply be ‘business as usual,’ and start to consider the need for the longer-term reforms.”
Mr. Whiteman said he’s “pleased” with the meeting, saying it was “more than a courtesy.”
“I felt that for the first time in far too long Ofsted took seriously the concerns of NAHT members,” he said.
“It’s early days but both HMCI, Sir Martyn Oliver, and Ofsted Chair, Dame Christine Ryan, demonstrated a deep understanding of our members’ concerns and a determination to work with us to identify solutions,” he said.
“These are early days and NAHT members will judge progress on actions and not words. To that end we have started today to agree immediate actions to bring confidence and space to discuss longer term reform.”
Ms. Cruddas also said she’s “pleased,” adding that the conversations had been “very positive and signal a change in practice, tone and culture.”
