The education secretary has told the Conservatives that she does have confidence in Ofsted’s chief inspector, but defended her belief that inspections “should be improved”.
Lucy Powell was accused by the Conservatives of a “failure of leadership” last week after she did not clearly express confidence in chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver when asked to do so during a TV interview.
Vlog can reveal that Ms Powell has now put her confidence in Sir Martyn on record in a letter sent to shadow education secretary Laura Trott.
However, Ms Powell reiterated her concerns about Ofsted’s inspection framework, which she has previously said needs to have a “much stronger” focus on a school’s context.
Three education unions - the Association of School and College Leaders, NEU teaching union and the NAHT school leaders’ union - have publicly said they do not have confidence in Sir Martyn.
Last week, Ms Trott said Ms Powell had “undermined” Sir Martyn as a result of a “lack of public support” during an interview.
A Labour spokesperson last week insisted that Ms Powell had been clear [in the interview] “that she had confidence in Ofsted and the chief inspector”.
‘Robust accountability’ shouldn’t stop reform
In her response sent to Ms Trott today, Ms Powell said: “I have confidence in Ofsted and in His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver.”
But she added that “support for Ofsted and robust accountability does not mean that the current arrangements cannot or should not be improved”.
Ofsted announced earlier this month that it would be launching a pilot to reform its complaints system.
Concerns remain around other aspects of the framework, including how it inspects inclusion.
Vlog was first to report that secondary schools with the highest intakes of students with special educational needs and disabilities are five times more likely to be rated as below the “expected standard” on inclusion than those with the lowest proportion.
DfE and Ofsted working together on reform
In the letter, Ms Powell also said: “Accountability must be effective, proportionate and fair, recognise the context in which schools operate, and support high standards without placing unnecessary pressure on teachers and school leaders.”
Almost nine in 10 schools said an Ofsted inspection had had a negative impact on their staff’s mental wellbeing under the latest framework, according to an independent review commissioned by Ofsted.
Ms Powell confirmed in her letter that she was working with Ofsted on further reform.
“Sir Martyn and I will provide further information on any changes in due course, at the conclusion of our work,” the education secretary said.
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