All posts tagged: inspections

New Ofsted policy sees 1 in 8 inspections deferred or paused

New Ofsted policy sees 1 in 8 inspections deferred or paused

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles Ofsted deferred or paused one in eight school inspections in the first full year of a new policy aimed at lessening its impact on leaders’ wellbeing, data suggests. The current mechanism that allows school leaders to request an inspection be delayed or put on hold was introduced in January 2024, as part of a raft of reforms that responded to the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry. A coroner ruled in late 2023 that an Ofsted inspection of Caversham Primary School in Reading had contributed to her death. New data released yesterday (Thursday) shows that between April 2024 and April 2025, more than 800 headteachers used the function, and requested their inspections be either paused or deferred. Of the 786 schools that requested a deferral, 79 per cent (621) were accepted, while all 37 requests for a pause were accepted. Schools Week analysis shows there were 5,117 school inspections over the same period. This suggests over 12 per cent were deferred or paused. ‘Exceptional circumstances’ Schools may request an inspection …

Ofsted MAT inspections could begin in 2027, says Phillipson

Ofsted MAT inspections could begin in 2027, says Phillipson

Published by skeptic

Inspections at multi-academy trusts are to be introduced via new legislation Inspections at multi-academy trusts are to be introduced via new legislation More from this theme Recent articles New Ofsted inspections of multi-academy trusts could begin as early as 2027, it has emerged. The government has already pledged to introduce Ofsted inspections at MATs during this Parliament. Currently, Ofsted provides summary evaluation of trusts (MATSEs), which sees it batch-inspect a number of schools within a trust. But it does not inspect the way their central teams work. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has today confirmed today government will introduce legislation to enable MAT inspections, via an amendment to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill. Writing for Tes, she said: “Many of the decisions that shape schools…are taken at trust level, yet inspection does not yet fully reflect that reality”. Meanwhile, “variation in quality remains”. She said new MAT inspections will “be about understanding quality and supporting trusts to improve” and “give trusts – and government – a clear, independent view of what they are doing well and where …

Ofsted pauses NPQ inspections for rest of academic year

Ofsted pauses NPQ inspections for rest of academic year

Published by skeptic

NPQ inspections paused until 2026-27 while DfE reviews framework and Ofsted updates approach NPQ inspections paused until 2026-27 while DfE reviews framework and Ofsted updates approach More from this theme Recent articles Ofsted has announced routine inspections of NPQ providers will be paused until next academic year, while the government reviews the qualifications. The inspectorate announced the pause this morning on its website, saying: “The secretary of state for education has requested that we pause our routine inspections of national professional qualifications for the remainder of the academic year 2025-26.” The pause “is to align with the Department for Education’s NPQ review and the launch of the early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) in September 2025.” it said. The government announced in January it would be reviewing NPQ frameworks with help from an expert panel of sector leaders. The ECTE, which launched in September, replaced the former early career framework (ECF) programme. The two-year programme supports early career teachers (ECTs) when they start out in the profession. During this pause, Ofsted says it “will redevelop the current early career …

Heads issue report cards on new inspections

Heads issue report cards on new inspections

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles School leaders who volunteered for new Ofsted inspections said they were much more collaborative, but warned about the toll on staff of the “far more rigorous” checks. New report card inspections were introduced last week, with routine inspections restarting on December 1. Currently, inspections are only for schools who volunteered and are led by senior inspectors. But here’s what five leaders who were inspected had to say about their experience… Collaborative, but rigorous Leaders said the inspections are “more collaborative”, with a “definite shift in tone”. One leader said inspectors praised what the school was doing well and added they were “a lot more open”. However, he warned of heightened pressure on staff, saying the inspection was much more rigorous. Staff described “a level of pressure that is way heavier than anything they have seen beforehand”, he said, adding it was “an awful lot of scrutiny, at a granular level, that schools aren’t used to”. Paul Stone One newly qualified teacher was observed “for the best part of two-and-a-half …