AN INQUIRY into Ofsted reforms is calling for the educational standards body to step back from inspections and allow schools to submit self-evaluations in a report of its findings.
Beyond Ofsted, which is funded by the National Education Union, was chaired by Jim Knight, former Schools Minister, and collects the findings of research carried out by academics at University College London.
After consideration of a number of different solutions to reform, the report said that Ofsted is seen to be unfit for purpose, and even “toxic,” in the wake of the death of Caversham headteacher Ruth Perry.
The inquiry said that reform should see the abandonment of single-world judgements, which it argues oversimplify the complex status of a school.
This was also called for by a report released by the Institute for Public Policy Research on Monday, November 20.
The reports detail a level of under-funding at the standards body which has led to a failure to meet expectations regarding its role.
Beyond Ofsted recommends instead that schools perform their own inspections and produce internal improvement plans, with no “direct” contact with Ofsted, and that stakeholders such as the parents and community of a school would hold it to account.
Safeguarding is recommended to be considered annually and overseen by a new national body.
A parliamentary inquiry is still ongoing after MPs called for an investigation back in June following the death of Ruth Perry.
Ms Perry was the head teacher at Caversham Primary School, Reading, for 13 years, but was found dead in January.
She had taken her own life weeks after an Ofsted inspection, and just days before the school was expected to drop from an “outstanding” rating down to an “inadequate” rating.
Professor Julia Waters, sister of Ms Perry, said of the findings: “As the Beyond Ofsted report recognises–and as the death of my sister shockingly demonstrates–Ofsted inspections do more harm than good.
“Ofsted have lost the trust of the teaching profession and the general public–there is an urgent need for radical reform of Ofsted’s punitive, fatally flawed inspection system.”
She added: “I particularly welcome the report’s recommendation that Ofsted should have a legal duty of care for those they inspect.
“They already have a moral duty of care, but evidently this is inadequate.
“A legal duty of care would require Ofsted to be far more careful with the lives and wellbeing of those whom we trust to care for our children.”
