New vision for Ofsted inspections

Summary:

• Amanda Spielman proposes 4 new inspection judgements
• schools will no longer receive a separate grade for outcomes for pupils
• focus will be on the substance of education and a broad curriculum
• more involvement for classroom teachers
• consultation on draft framework to be launched in January
  

Ofsted has announced a new inspection framework that will see it downgrade the importance of exam results in favour of assessing whether schools are offering a “broad, rich and deep” curriculum.

Speaking at a schools conference in Newcastle, Ofsted’s Chief Executive Amanda Spielman said: “We know that focusing too narrowly on test and exam results can often leave little time or energy for hard thinking about the curriculum, and in fact can sometimes end up making a casualty of it.”

She added that based on curriculum research and education sector feedback, Ofsted now believes that “a focus on performance data is coming at the expense of what is taught in schools”.

Ofsted will consult on the introduction of a new judgement for 'quality of education'. This will replace the current 'outcomes for pupils' and 'teaching, learning and assessment' judgements with a broader, single judgement.

For more information see the press release from Ofsted at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chief-inspector-sets-out-vision-for-new-education-inspection-framework