This article was written prior to new chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver's announcement on 2 January 2024 that inspections in schools will be halted to allow for mental health training for inspectors.
Ofsted have been making headlines in the past few weeks and not in a good way (did they ever?). Emotions can run high when discussing our inspectorate and it isn’t surprising given their perceived untouchable status. It has been a very one-sided affair since their inception in 1992 and in all that time, there has been fear, mistrust and anxiety associated with their work.
The effectiveness of intervention relies on the sensitive use of knowledge and experience in order to identify and build improvement. There are few who would disagree that in any educational setting, the greatest resource is the staff team. Now, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that if those people are stressed, fearful and in a panic every time the phone rings, then you probably won’t be getting the best out of them. You will also drive division and completely lose the focus on any core task because people are so busy covering their backs and hiding.
In 2012, the then chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, famously said, ‘If anyone says to you that staff morale is at an all-time low, you know you must be doing something right.’ Of all the stupid, unhelpful and simply wrong things to say about school leadership, this must be the chart topper.
When the body that judges others is investigated internally and cannot be held to account then it will become stagnant and toxic. This is what has happened and as a result any clear direction has been lost. They are too busy covering their backs, replicating that culture of fear.
I heard Amanda Spielman being interviewed on Radio 4, and when asked how she would grade her own performance or that of Ofsted itself, she declined. It seems that (like so many other government-related bodies) they feel they are above the scrutiny they hold so dear when inflicting it on others. Any environment that forbids questions becomes unhealthy, disconnected and, to be honest, irrelevant.
The Ofsted format since the early 80s is one of accountability rather than support and improvement. Accountability is important, but the huge majority of those in education have a real will to improve society. In short, the building blocks for any improvement are already in place.
The bottom line, however, is that Ruth Perry’s death was avoidable and as a result the organisation that judges the suitability of others needs to engage in some deep self-reflection and re-direction. My thoughts are with her family, her friends and her school.