https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/aug/03/council-maintained-schools-in-england-outperforming-academies-in-ofsted-ratings

Well I'm *shocked*, shocked I tell you.

Headline: "Council-maintained #Schools in England outperforming academies in #Ofsted ratings."
Byline: "Research for Local Government Association renews questions over government’s ‘academisation’ policy."

When I was a governor a few years back there was a period where the Government were considering forcing all schools to become academies. We spend a significant amount of time going through the likely impact, which in our individual case would have been positive on paper, but discounted the benefits derived from being part of a wider, local educational community.

#EducationUK

Research on #academies & council maintained #schools suggests that the policy of shifting schools into Academy management is not serving the needs of #students, measured by schools' #OFSTED grading.

However, given the economic structure of privately-run academies there is a group that are clearly benefiting (financially)...

Everywhere you turn the #Tories have moved to enrich a small coterie of chums & 'fellow travellers' - #Torycorruption takes many forms

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/aug/03/council-maintained-schools-in-england-outperforming-academies-in-ofsted-ratings

More news on the story of #katharinebirbalsingh and the supposed #catidentifying pupil! The emergency unannounced inspection by #ofsted has discovered that the school in question is a rather good school with no particular issues. To the untutored reader it looks rather better than the establishment run by #katharinebirbalsingh!

#School in ‘#CatPupil’ controversy given #Ofsted all-clear after snap inspection

Inspectors praise ‘sensitive and impartial’ teaching of relationship and sex education at #RyeCollege after secret video raised concerns
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jul/13/school-in-cat-pupil-controversy-given-ofsted-all-clear-after-snap-inspection

Was it really ‘inadequate’ if they can turn it around to ‘good’ within a few months?

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/ruth-perry-school-run-by-teacher-who-took-own-life-after-ofsted-inspection-upgraded-to-good-12917045…

#Ofsted

As the Guardian notes the solution to the crisis in #teaching isn't rocket science:

Better pay - to restore the profession's economic standing;

Workload reduction - to reduce the extreme demands on #teachers time & restore a better #worklifebalance;

Reform of #OFSTED which has lost the confidence of the profession & seems callous in light of criticism.

We must value those who work so hard to ensure our children gain the education they need for life (not just work)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/19/the-guardian-view-on-teacher-shortages-pay-must-go-up-and-workload-down

#OFSTED
Still not listening.
School inspections need a huge reset and become more collaborative. Well past the time to get rid of one word evaluations.
#teachers

BBC News - Ofsted school inspections to change after Ruth Perry's family campaign
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-65856139

#Ofsted has made some (inadequate?) changes to the #schools inspection routine - allowing schools attend inadequate on procedural ground to be promptly re-inspected, relaxing the secrecy around initial judgements - but these are widely seen as inadequate, leaving the School's standoff with #teaching #unions largely un-changed.

The Q. is what next?

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jun/12/ofsted-school-inspection-ruth-perry-sister

Listening to birdsong in garden with a large glass of sherry & a book the kids think is boring (it’s not btw) so won’t talk to me about it. No online noise. No sassy chat back.

Please give #teachers the money. They so deserve it. Reform #Ofsted. It’s pants. #schoolstrikes

#teachers
#schools
If you are a teacher or have teacher friends and relatives, you will know the impact that #OFSTED has on them, their pupils & working life. Ofsted operate within a culture of fear. Time for change is long overdue.
Please support.
https://gofund.me/f81cf585

"...the inspector interrupted her lesson to ask her – in front of all her 11- and 12-year-old pupils – to point out the most disadvantaged children. She said: 'I was so shocked I just stood there like a goldfish.' The teacher refused to openly point at the children, but offered to show the information on a seating plan, which the inspector refused."

#Ofsted

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/may/01/teachers-asked-to-chip-in-1-each-for-legal-case-against-ofsted

Teachers asked to chip in £1 each for legal case against Ofsted | Ofsted | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/may/01/teachers-asked-to-chip-in-1-each-for-legal-case-against-ofsted

#UK #Teachers #Ofsted

#OFSTED
Shameful comments from Amanda Speilman - to recognise her organisation generates 'a culture of fear' in schools but not be willing to do anything about.
Resign.
#teachers
#schools

BBC interview with Amanda Spielman on Kuenssberg on Sunday - indirect quote - ‘many inspectors are human beings’.
#Ofsted

Ofsted refuses to drop ‘one-word assessments’ despite teachers' concerns | Morning Star
#Ofsted
#OneWordAssessments
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/ofsted-refuses-to-drop-one-word-assessments-despite-teachers-concerns

If you're not quite sure what is going on in the dispute over #OFSTED inspections then this @YorksBylines piece will give you a clue why #teachers are losing any remaining...

#SupportourTeachers

https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/education/we-felt-like-criminals-teachers-talking-ofsted/

We may be cynical about the impact of petitions on policy, but nonetheless its worth registering our position.

So, here is a petition for the reform of #OFSTED which you might want to take a minute to sign... its one way the non-teachers can back up the #Teachers' call for OFSTED's radical reform.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635055

If I was in the #LabourParty & looking for a policy that would put clear blue water between the #Tories & Labour, I'd be seriously looking to abolish #OFSTED & replace it with a system that would support #teachers.

To avoid the right-wing accusations that teachers want to evade scrutiny, it would need to specify the replacement, but....

that shouldn't be too difficult as there is a wealth of expertise in the teaching profession who despite right-propoganda want to do right for their students!

Petition:
End Ofsted’s Reign of Terror: Demand Fair and Just Procedures for Everyone

https://chng.it/wvbS569Svh

#ofsted #education #regulation

““Balancing what’s best for the children and what Ofsted want to see is an increasing challenge, but I didn’t become a head teacher to worry about ridiculous stuff like Ofsted and DfE, especially when they rarely seem to have the best interests of the children as their core aim.””

#Ofsted #Education #UKPolitics https://apple.news/AwbyDmYf-S4SkB9gAclIKNA