Body & Soul3 mins ago
Ofsted - why?
10 Answers
After another half term at a failing school, I just wanted to put it to any educators out there - is Ofsted doing its job?
Why are the inspectors allowed to give teachers 2-3 days' notice of a visit - this does not happen in The Hotel Inspector, where visitors appear unannounced!
Our school is on 'special measures' which means it has appallingly failed the Ofsted visit - due to mismanagement I have to add.
When the inspectors do visit, they skim the surface and fail to notice real problems, long-term sick teachers go unchecked, paperwork is miraculously produced by teachers and management, paperwork teaching assistants fail to see for the rest of the year.
It is a complete farce. Does anyone else have any dealings with ofsted?
Why are the inspectors allowed to give teachers 2-3 days' notice of a visit - this does not happen in The Hotel Inspector, where visitors appear unannounced!
Our school is on 'special measures' which means it has appallingly failed the Ofsted visit - due to mismanagement I have to add.
When the inspectors do visit, they skim the surface and fail to notice real problems, long-term sick teachers go unchecked, paperwork is miraculously produced by teachers and management, paperwork teaching assistants fail to see for the rest of the year.
It is a complete farce. Does anyone else have any dealings with ofsted?
Answers
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I work in a College and we got 3 weeks notice of an Ofsted inspection, not 3 days.
I also saw lecturers running round gathering and filling in paperwork that they wouldn't normally have available. Also posters put up in corridors, classrooms tidied, students warned re lateness and punctualilty the week before so they would turn up on time whilst Inspectors were in etc etc
I used to work for a Bank and c15 years ago, Inspectors used to arrive unannounced. They also give three weeks notice now which to me, defeats the object. Turning up unannounced allows them to see the Bank/School/College as it is usually run, with missing paperwork and everything. Three weeks notice just gives staff time to get together stuff that they know they should have but don't and to sort out the place before they arrive!
I also saw lecturers running round gathering and filling in paperwork that they wouldn't normally have available. Also posters put up in corridors, classrooms tidied, students warned re lateness and punctualilty the week before so they would turn up on time whilst Inspectors were in etc etc
I used to work for a Bank and c15 years ago, Inspectors used to arrive unannounced. They also give three weeks notice now which to me, defeats the object. Turning up unannounced allows them to see the Bank/School/College as it is usually run, with missing paperwork and everything. Three weeks notice just gives staff time to get together stuff that they know they should have but don't and to sort out the place before they arrive!
I made a complaint to Ofsted last september about my sons Pre school. They acknowledged it but i heard nothing else from them. The last Ofsted inspection for the Pre school was carried out in 2004. In 2007 we had a new head and deputy. My son had been there since 2005 and was loving it, there were no problems until these two new staff started. It changed dramatically. They treated the children badly and lots of parents were very unhappy and so were the children. My sons behaviour changed so much. I talked to them but they were no help. He left the Pre school in July as he has started school. I made the complaint against them because of what they had done to my son and the fact it might be continuing for others.
I have since found out from his current school the information passed onto them from his Pre school. She has lied to the school about my son, saying she asked me to look into getting help from other services for him. She said that i refused and would not co-operate with them. All this is untrue. I knew nothing about any of this until the other day when his school told me. The school have been concerned because of it but they never told me.
I have written another letter to Ofsted about all this and am waiting for a reply.
Not only do Ofsted seem to miss things when inspecting, I think every 3 years for inspecting is not enough and if the people who run the setting change then there should be one straight away. They say on their website that they do turn up without notice to do inspections. I know this is not true, as you say. I have worked in Day Nurseries in the past and they always knew, they would get extra staff in, tell us what we had to do for it etc etc. I only lasted a few months!
I have since found out from his current school the information passed onto them from his Pre school. She has lied to the school about my son, saying she asked me to look into getting help from other services for him. She said that i refused and would not co-operate with them. All this is untrue. I knew nothing about any of this until the other day when his school told me. The school have been concerned because of it but they never told me.
I have written another letter to Ofsted about all this and am waiting for a reply.
Not only do Ofsted seem to miss things when inspecting, I think every 3 years for inspecting is not enough and if the people who run the setting change then there should be one straight away. They say on their website that they do turn up without notice to do inspections. I know this is not true, as you say. I have worked in Day Nurseries in the past and they always knew, they would get extra staff in, tell us what we had to do for it etc etc. I only lasted a few months!
Back in the day of school inspectors a school received regular inspections from a person who knew the catchment area and the staff in each school. The inspector knew what was seen on the last visit and made practical suggestions for improvement. There was no untoward pressure or rehearsals of lessons. In those days the troublesome pupils were not shipped out on a hastily arranged 'field trip' the inspector knew the school and advised and supported. I have worked through both systems and have seen excellent teachers leave due to inadequately informed ofsted inspectors who have come with their own agendas.(Usually failed heads themselves)
My eldest son is at a school which has just come out of special measures. My sister works in the same school. Giving notice of an Ofsted visit means that the inspectors do not get to see the school as it really is.
On the last inspection, all the troublesome kids were told to stay at home and the two or three totally useless teachers had time to prepare lessons that looked half decent.
On the last inspection, all the troublesome kids were told to stay at home and the two or three totally useless teachers had time to prepare lessons that looked half decent.
Yes - I work in education and although I don't work in the main school my department is subject to Ofsted inspections. Our playwork provision was inspected with no notice and to be honest it was a farce - we complained about it and were re-inspected (without notice) a few months later and everything was very different.
Our adult education provision is also subject to a similar (very rigorous) inspection process.
Our adult education provision is also subject to a similar (very rigorous) inspection process.
What amazes me is that the poor sub standard teachers that have well-contirbuted to the state they are in (mismanagement of THEM) are still there, Ofsted give notice of arrival and they still produce a substandard lesson and they are STILL TEACHING!
We have a number of meetings before the visit, telling us to get our paperwork in order, ask the kids the "correct" leading questions in the class, given money for fruit snacks, paid overtime to get the boards up to scratch.
There should be no excuse to provide a superb lesson under these conditions.
Bensmum I am amazed - no notice of a visit!! We are a failed school trying to improve. You would think we would be having these type of visits. It is shocking.
It is only people within a school who will ever really know what goes on, not governors and certainly not mum and dad.
Aims could you speak to the governors or head of the nursery, I wouldn't hold out for Ofsted, they just tick boxes on the day.
We have a number of meetings before the visit, telling us to get our paperwork in order, ask the kids the "correct" leading questions in the class, given money for fruit snacks, paid overtime to get the boards up to scratch.
There should be no excuse to provide a superb lesson under these conditions.
Bensmum I am amazed - no notice of a visit!! We are a failed school trying to improve. You would think we would be having these type of visits. It is shocking.
It is only people within a school who will ever really know what goes on, not governors and certainly not mum and dad.
Aims could you speak to the governors or head of the nursery, I wouldn't hold out for Ofsted, they just tick boxes on the day.
all these complaints about ofsted... I complained to my local MP stating the lack of consistency in inspections, the way schools are able to put on a performance, the damage done by the stress to an already beleagured workforce and so on. I received a letter on House of Commons parchment no less ,stating how pleased the government were with the results of the Ofsted initiative. Nice to know they listen isn't it?
I work in a school that is close to being labeled failing here in the states! Just today I sat in yet another meeting and was given loads of papers to help prepare us for our visit in March!!! Ours is called a Quality Review. We also will be given mandates to decorate halls, beautify classrooms, etc.
While I like a pleasing classroom, I am not an interior decorator!
If this is happening here in U.S. and there too, maybe someone aside from the teachers will finally believe that we do all we can and then some, but the problem is NOT always the school. Perhaps if families were held "accountable" the way I am for all the ills of the world, things would change.
I get sick of the dog and pony show the administration puts on for these reviews and that in 15 years of teaching I have never been spoken to by these nitwits, who have never set foot in front of a class, for my input or feedback.
You are not alone.
While I like a pleasing classroom, I am not an interior decorator!
If this is happening here in U.S. and there too, maybe someone aside from the teachers will finally believe that we do all we can and then some, but the problem is NOT always the school. Perhaps if families were held "accountable" the way I am for all the ills of the world, things would change.
I get sick of the dog and pony show the administration puts on for these reviews and that in 15 years of teaching I have never been spoken to by these nitwits, who have never set foot in front of a class, for my input or feedback.
You are not alone.
My daughters last school was in special measures, it is not fair the notice they give, this rubbish school literally changed overnight for the 3 days that ofsted had visited.
They hired temps for those days, a cleaning contractor and prepped the children to be good and helpful, after this visit they were given a notice to improve (still not good enough despite the work)
A week later my daughter was back to spending most days "watching dvds" because a teacher hadnt bothered to turn up with no temps in sight.
She now goes to a very good school and in 5 months she has gone up 7 levels
They hired temps for those days, a cleaning contractor and prepped the children to be good and helpful, after this visit they were given a notice to improve (still not good enough despite the work)
A week later my daughter was back to spending most days "watching dvds" because a teacher hadnt bothered to turn up with no temps in sight.
She now goes to a very good school and in 5 months she has gone up 7 levels
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