White Lies: Racism, Education and Critical Race Theory
Here is an excerpt from David Gillborn's book: ...neither Black Caribbean nor Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children have ever enjoyed achievement on a par with their 'white British peers', and yet white students are at least ten times more likely to be singled out for discussion in the annual report produced by the head of Ofsted...(p 231, emphases as in the original.)
Excoriating letter re Ofsted's survey 22nd April 2025
Letter from Frank Coffield: Journal 3rd April 2025
Very Relevant Blog
See the section half of this Blog from the Socialist Education Association.
Curriculum and OFSTED Shake Up? - Education Politics
BBC Report 29/3/25
One school's experience 11/3/25
I am very interested in supporting your cause - Ofsted is a dreadful system and not helpful at all. It is also completely determined by the whim of the lead inspector and whatever agenda they have turned up with and their capacity to overrule what other inspectors have seen and really valued.
Our experience was appalling with huge sweeping statements made on one example from one child and no room for any kind of viable discussions. The report was fine (judged Good) but we literally came away deflated and without any real targets to aim for, unless getting one child to write 'because' right in two pieces of work in History (an actual example that was used to say we needed to work on assessment in foundation subjects!).
Message from a Head 3/3/25
Absolute agreement with your statements. Inspectors do NOT understand some schools and are not fit for the job as they have not the required experience to judge. We recently had 30% of the draft report removed as inaccurate but unchanged judgements due to Inspectors refusing to consider all evidence.
Contacting the politicians 29/2/25
Frank Coffield and Peter Tymms attended a Labour Party dinner on Friday 28 February where we seized the chance to inform the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Philippson, and our own MP, Mary Foy, of our campaign to Transform Inspection for Good. Our message appeared to be welcome, especially the suggestion that our alternative could save money. Mary Foy kindly invited us to write to her at the House of Commons to provide her with more information about our proposal and we have followed that up by sending her the links to our document and this website. We were also able to distribute our purpose-produced business cards to the other MPs who were present. Altogether a small step for two men but we hope a giant leap for our campaign.
New Blog on Ofsted - well worth reading
https://constantinides.net/2025/02/09/school-accountability-reform/
A new an alternative consultation just released
To have your say go to Thealternativebiglisten - Alternative Big Listen, Ofsted Inspectors, Ofsted's Stated Intentions
Comment from Ro Pengelly. 21/2/25
Ofsted's inspection framework comprises 8 areas, with a total of 330 standards to be judged according to 5 grading levels. But, exampling the Developing Teaching area, if just one of its 38 standards is thought to cause concern, the whole area is likely to be labelled at the lowest grade. This increases the stress and workloads of staff, frightens off new graduates from joining the profession, and accelerates the flight of senior management.