Inspection

The latest news, analysis and opinion on inspections at schools in the UK and overseas, from updates to inspection frameworks and guidance on how to prepare

Tuesday

2nd May 2023

Ofsted: Ex-inspector crowdfunds £40K for legal challenge
School leaders hope to fund a High Court action to compel Ofsted to reveal the evidence it uses to downgrade schools
Ofsted: A former inspector has helped raise £40,000 for a legal challenge over school inspections

Friday

28th Apr 2023

Whiteman: Pay dispute is ‘battle for heart and soul of education’
NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman is to urge ministers to come back to negotiating table in his speech to union’s annual conference
Paul Whiteman
Heads urged to take down Ofsted banners at schools
NAHT president-elect Simon Kidwell will tell the union’s conference that schools should take action to put Ofsted ‘back in its box’
Heads urged to take down Ofsted banners from schools

Thursday

27th Apr 2023

Ofsted MAT checks: 7 key findings
Ofsted resumed its summary evaluations of multi-academy trusts a year ago. Here is everything you need to know about its findings since then
7 ways Ofsted is checking on MATs

Tuesday

25th Apr 2023

Ofsted: No MAT inspection leaves DfE in the dark
The fact that multi-academy trusts are not being inspected means they are not being held fully ‘accountable’ or receiving enough ‘credit’ for their work, warns Ofsted
Ofsted: Should Ofsted carry out inspections of multi-academy trusts?
Inquiry will ‘rigorously investigate’ Ofsted inspection system
A new inquiry, chaired by a former schools minister, will look at ways to make school inspections ‘fairer’ amid controversy over Ofsted’s approach
Microscope dish

Friday

21st Apr 2023

Ofsted crisis: ‘Olive branch’ not enough to salvage trust
Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman seeks to address concerns over safeguarding judgements and the watchdog’s complaints process
Ofsted 'olive branch' may not be enough, say headteachers

Thursday

20th Apr 2023

Gibb: Ofsted and DfE to ‘look at’ limiting judgements
Schools minister says the government and inspectorate would consider if limiting judgements on safeguarding are right approach after concern raised about schools being downgraded
Nick Gibb

Friday

7th Apr 2023

Heads ‘in dark’ as 32.5-hour school week deadline looms
Schools will struggle to implement policy after eight-month delay to guidance, DfE warned
Clocks
Exclusive

Thursday

6th Apr 2023

Teacher strikes: ‘Pay fight might not be won this year’
Outgoing NEU joint general secretaries warn Gillian Keegan to ‘do her job’ as they admit dispute might not be won on their watch
Kevin Courtney and Dr Mary Bousted

Wednesday

5th Apr 2023

Ofsted crisis: Call on heads to quit inspection
NEU members back action to put pressure on Ofsted following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry
Ofsted crisis: Call for school leaders not to carry out inspection

Friday

31st Mar 2023

Ofsted crisis: Heads union set to launch legal action
NAHT calls for inspections to be suspended over staff mental health risks as it announces plans for judicial review
Heads union set to launch legal action