NEWS FOCUS
www.sec-ed.com
SecEd: On Your Side
Politicians fiddle,
teachers fight fire
EVERY SCHOOL week
brings its ups and downs, but
recently there was, for me at
Dr Bernard
least, one distinct high, and a
Trafford
corresponding deep low.
The high was the address
by Steve Munby at the annual conference of the rebranded
National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s
Services. The CEO started by observing how national
leadership has lost the trust of the public. He didn’t go into
specifics: but I can’t resist the temptation to do so.
The public has been watching with dismay the
ineffectiveness of politicians confronting the credit crunch,
having turned a blind eye to the years of reckless lending
that got us into this mess. As the expenses scandal unfolded,
we saw MPs caught committing tax fraud, lying or pleading
Having your say
lamely that they simply “followed the rules” (not a defence
that carried much weight at the Nuremberg trials).
If the leadership has been feeble, the disloyalty and back-
RECENT CHANGES to the way they are more aware of the current
stabbing have been striking. The way parties (or politicians,
Ofsted operates have attracted some
Last week, SecEd reported on Ofsted’s
challenges and realities of today’s
not quite the same thing) shower their new leaders with fierce criticism from teachers, as schooling.
adulation and sycophancy, only to stab them in the back
SecEd reported last week (Ofsted
plans to change the way it will
“The quality of the inspection
mere months later, renders Shakespeare’s take on Julius
plans changes to inspections, SecEd
217, June 18).
inspect schools. The article sparked
team is central to accurate reporting
and this is an aspect that is often
Caesar tame by comparison.
Under the new system, schools
It’s all pretty unedifying, and it’s a damned bad example
quite a response. Chris Parr reports
ignored.”
judged to be good or outstanding Mr Ainsworth said he could
to set to young people if we want them to grow up with a
will be inspected once every five not see how no-notice inspections
healthy respect for authority and democratic institutions.
years, instead of once every three, been very high, in 2008, when a He continued: “Bizarrely, could be positive experiences, or
It’ll take more than just citizenship lessons to repair all that
while there will be more frequent team ignored all the evidence about considering that they disagreed how shorter inspections would
inspections for schools ranked our really very strong, and still with all of our most important allow “productive dialogue” with
damage: but society always expects schools to pick up the
further down the scale. improving, performance at GCSE, judgements, Ofsted nevertheless the inspection team.
pieces. Ofsted also announced that and labelled us ‘satisfactory’ judged our ability to self-evaluate Peggy Farrington, headteacher
The climax of Mr Munby’s uplifting address in
inspectors will spend more time because our key stage 3 results were as ‘good’. of Hanham High School in Bristol,
Birmingham saw a rallying cry: the only way for us to lead
observing in classrooms, and not improving fast enough. “Our key stage 2 to 4 contextual described her Ofsted inspection as a
is with authenticity and trust. In contrast to current public
place a greater emphasis on “The views of governors, value-added score has been ‘good’ “very positive experience”.
pupil attainment. In addition to parents, primary school heads, or ‘outstanding’ every year since She told us: “I believe that this
examples, we need to be real and honest, our work founded
raw exam results, inspectors will the local authority, and a highly publication started. We receive was because we were absolutely
on integrity. As leaders we must be trustworthy, and to trust be looking more closely at the experienced school improvement letters annually from government prepared – the three-year deadline
in turn. It was heady, inspirational stuff, a tonic indeed.
work they see students completing partner were all comprehensively ministers congratulating us on our was kept almost to the day, the
Now the low point. In the hysteria following the case of
during their visit. ignored. strong and sustained performance timing avoided exams and
Dr John Dunford, from the “It took almost a year to at GCSE. The school is seriously interviews, and the inspectors were
Baby P, hot on the heels of Victoria Climbié, government
Association of School and College complete the Ofsted process of over-subscribed, with waiting lists very well-led by someone with
has decided that home-educating parents must register
Leaders, said the emphasis on complaint and internal investigation. in all year groups. 19 years of experience, who was
their children, be inspected regularly, and submit their raw results would make it more Ironically, and all too late, while “Only Ofsted, having spent willing to listen.”
educational plans to the authorities.
difficult for schools in challenging this was taking place the secretary 12 hours in the school, and However, Ms Farrington remains
Children’s minister, Baroness Morgan, said the review
circumstances, while Dr Mary of state abolished the key stage subsequently admitting to a flawed unconvinced about the virtues of
Bousted, of the Association of 3 tests and recommended that inspection process, chose and still no-notice inspections.
by Graham Badman was needed because “in some extreme
Teachers and Lecturers, claimed GCSE performance be regarded as chooses to disagree that this is a Under Ofsted’s new guidelines,
cases, home education could be used as a cover for abuse”.
the changes did not account for the prime indicator of a secondary good school. We in turn have now no-notice inspections will not be
However, Ann Newstead of the home educators’ pressure
students’ family background and school’s strength.” decided to ignore them, though their put in place for routine checks, but
group, Education Otherwise, reminded us that “99.99 per
economic circumstances. In the end, Ofsted upheld a judgement has, of course, denied where there are particular concerns,
cent of abused children are in school”.
SecEd has received a number of number of the school’s complaints us the right to apply for a second for example connected to welfare,
responses in light of the article. about the inspectors’ “poor specialism.” the inspectorate has said it may
And what about the catalogue of institutional failures to
One London head, who asked organisation, poor communication, Meanwhile, Paul Ainsworth, inspect without notice.
address the injuries to Victoria Climbié or to Baby P? Or to remain anonymous, described and the lack of a proper opportunity deputy head at Belvoir School in In addition, no-notice inspection
the very recent case of a nursery worker charged with abuse
a series of events that had caused to discuss many of the judgements Leicestershire, wants to see changes will be introduced for monitoring
and child pornography?
him to “lose all faith” with the made, but concluded that all the to the system. schools in special measures, those
Abusers are everywhere: fortunately, they are a tiny
inspectorate. original judgements could be He said: “I would like to see a with a notice to improve, and
He told us: “I lost my confidence ratified on the basis of the records greater number of current teachers around 40 per cent of “satisfactory”
minority of the population. But it doesn’t mean that all are
in Ofsted, which had previously completed by the same inspectors. and leaders acting as inspectors, as schools. SecEd
guilty until proved innocent, that we should stop all of them
from practising, or send people in to inspect them just in
case. Not, at any rate, until adults are required to be CRB IN RESPONSE…
checked before being allowed to procreate: that’s almost
believable now. Government always wants to look as if it’s
Dear sir, to be given to the huge subsidy or the local Teachers’ Centre, run a What has come to light in
doing something. But it is not trustworthy and it doesn’t trust. offered to education by staff and student home to fetch the forgotten recent weeks suggests an absence
It’s against its nature to trust parents, that feckless bunch
There is something of a bitter governors across the country. coursework (with the correct of moral principles from those
who let their children become obese, binge drink, father
irony that, at the very time How many teachers claim for insurance of course) and yet make very persons who we might
governors across the country the treats and prizes bought for no claim for this mileage. While expect to offer an example, not
children at the age of 13, join gangs, and carry knives.
are grappling with their budget their students over the course of governors are entitled to claim least in a time of hardship, for so
Worse still, some take them out of school and home educate
proposals before submission to the year? An MP can claim for expenses, how many actually do? many families. While the issue
them, away from government control – until now.
local authorities, a furore has elaborate book cases and yet the Why does there appear to be is distasteful to many, it reminds
Government is incapable of balancing trust with proper
blown up in respect of politicians’ teacher who establishes a study such a gap between two groups of us of the values held by those
watchfulness and common sense. I await the final solution:
expenses. area at home with shelves laden public servants? Those working who work tirelessly in education
It suggests somewhat different with government documentation, and supporting schools know that to support children and young
DNA test and tag all children at birth – and their parents,
worlds and expectations. When lights burning through the twilight year-on-year money is tight and people in their learning and in
while we’re at it. It won’t achieve anything: but then nor the dust has settled and the media hours, sees not a penny from the seek to ensure that it is directed many instances do this from their
will ID cards, ContactPoint, Independent Safeguarding
expenses hype evaporated, it may public coffers. Indeed a key factor at supporting the students in their own pockets.
Authority registration, or the next layer of bureaucracy.
well be that much of what has in the purchase of their house is an learning. Having had my say and
Still, everyone will look busy, and for government that’s
happened is deemed to be within area in which to work. They are sometimes made to occupied the moral high ground,
the rules, but what does this say At this time of year in particular feel guilty about claiming money I need now to mow the lawn: I
the main thing. Nero-like, politicians will continue to fiddle
about the rules and those who teachers are taking students on and thereby deflecting resources filled in the moat last year!
while, inspired by professionals like Mr Munby, teachers both set them and work within field trips and residentials, where from the children. They do it
will fight the fire. Meanwhile, home-educating parents will
them? they are on duty 24 hours and yet because they have a sense of David Jones, headteacher
be arbitrarily robbed of a precious freedom.
To those working in schools, they seek no additional income, calling, they love their job, and Bognor Regis Community
expenses is a word rarely cited, but rather crave thanks from want to do their very utmost for College, West Sussex
• This guest editorial has been written by Dr Bernard
and one used with caution in the headteachers and parents. How the students. In the great majority
earshot of the bursar. They entail many teachers pop a few items in of cases they model the best of • Want to have your say? Send
Trafford, head of Newcastle’s Royal Grammar School and
claims for travel to courses and their shopping trolley while doing behaviours for others – a selfless your views to SecEd, St Jude’s
vice-chairman of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ resources purchased in their own their weekly supermarket shop commitment to the welfare of their Church, Dulwich Road, Herne
Conference. The opinions expressed are personal. Email the
time by teachers to support their because “that will be useful at community and a genuine sense of Hill, London, SE24 0PB or email
editor of SecEd at editor@sec-ed.co.uk
students. Little thought seems school”? They nip to County Hall, service. editor@sec-ed.co.uk
6 SecEd • June 25 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24