Inspectors criticise Ofsted’s ‘ridiculous’ training regime

Strong letter from Frank Coffield

Ofsted Article 25 July 2025 P 1 Pdf
PDF – 991.9 KB 2 downloads
Ofsted Article 25 July 2025 P 2 Pdf
PDF – 827.3 KB 2 downloads

Missed Ofsted inspection targets

Podcast of this website

We asked Google AI to produce a podcast and they did am amazing job. which can be listened here (with US accents)

NotebookLM

or on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/2iqLQERZ4YgKBoKVizxte2?si=y9xT4ZhsTz6KZ8D-iz45vA  

If you prefer to read the podcast the text is here.

transforming inspection for good transcript.docx

Some small errors crept in the the podcast and they are corrected in the text 

 

Frank Norris speaking at the annual NGA conference

Important publication

Frank's latest publication is The Creative Art of Troublemaking in Education.  It contains 17 of his articles, plus a first and last chapter where he brings the story up to date by critiquing the bungling of governments (of all political persuasions) in education.

Ofsted chief apologises for short notice on new inspections

Schools Week: ‘Delay new Ofsted inspections until September 2026’, demand unions

Guardian: Headteachers in England threaten to quit as Ofsted inspectors over proposed overhaul

Letter to the new Chair of Ofsted

Dear Christine Gilbert,

 

Congratulations on becoming the new Chair of Ofsted.  Your appointment comes at a critical time for the organisation as it now has to produce its proposals for change in the autumn. Many professionals and academics (like ourselves) are hoping to see some radical reforms of its current practices and interim proposals.

 

With that aim in mind, we would like to bring to your attention an alternative way forward which there is still time to consider.  We began with the concern that PISA has shown that educational standards (in reading, maths and science) in England have flatlined since it was launched, so Ofsted’s claim to have raised standards is not supported by the evidence. That key finding calls for an alternative approach and we have one to offer.

 

We propose an experiment in one large geographical area to run alongside whatever changes the government makes to Ofsted. Our model is based on the best national and international research into inspection which, for instance, has highlighted the success of peer-to-peer reviews, which are founded on mutual trust among partners, who offer tailored support and reciprocal challenge.  Our proposal is also cost-neutral as it would be funded by the monies that Ofsted would have spent in the area.

 

We have developed a website which is gaining increasing support from practising teachers across the country and we are planning a conference in September to bring together all those who are calling loudly for nothing less than radical reform.  We would be happy to explain our ideas to you  in much greater detail and hope that you have the time to look at the website which can be found here: www.inspect4good.uk

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Frank Coffield and Peter Tymms

 

FC: Emeritus Professor of Education, UCL Institute of Education, London University

PT: Emeritus Professor of Education at Durham University

 

Announcement of delay

Ofsted have said that the results of the consultation on inspections will not now be announced until September. 

Supportive  article from NATE (National Association of Teachers of English) 

Letter from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Schools, Learning
and Assessment to His Majesty's Chief Inspector

Turning school inspections toxic: insights from an
inquiry into Ofsted in England

School Accountability: Start Again! Blog 39 from Education Politics 

How many suicides are linked to Ofsted?

NAHT challenges Ofsted legally

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.

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.

Seminar - free for all - Wed 19th Feb 1pm

10th February 2025:

The Latest paper on accountability is available here