No notice will not make inspection more effective

Moving to no-notice inspections for all schools, announced today by the new chief inspector Michael Wilshaw, will not improve the effectiveness of inspections, says the Association of School and College Leaders.

ASCL General Secretary Brian Lightman said:

“As ASCL said in an open letter to Michael Wilshaw in the autumn, inspection is a key part of the school improvement process. We welcome moves to improve the effectiveness of inspection, but I have real doubts that no-notice inspection will accomplish this. An effective inspection system is based on mutual trust and respect, not the premise that schools are trying to ‘cheat’  and need to be caught out. If inspection is going to lead to improvement, it needs to be done with schools rather than used as a beating stick.

“We have already voiced serious concerns that the Parentview website provides no way of ensuring that the views expressed are accurate or representative.

“Schools and inspectors are just getting to grips with the revamped inspection framework which came into effect two weeks ago, and more upheaval is the last thing that will help. Schools are also having to prepare for imminent changes to exams, curriculum and other regulations. The best thing the government can do to help schools to improve is to stop tinkering with systems and give them time to focus on the students and on teaching and learning.”

“We welcome Sir Michael’s commitment to engage with the profession to improve the effectiveness of Ofsted, but that begs the question why he has announced this significant change before that important consultation with school leaders has taken place.”

10 January 2012