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SecEd: On Your Side
Ofsted: Allow us to
Exams watchdog
redress the balance
gets Royal Assent
As seced went to press last
Pete
week, we covered Ofsted’s
annual report. Truly a double-
Henshaw
edged sword for SecEd – the Editor,
report has to be covered in our
SecEd
Last month, the Apprenticeships,
news pages, but so often its
Skills, Children and Learning Bill was
negativity and unfair criticism of our schools sits at odds
with our own editorial views.
given Royal Assent, meaning that
And so this week, we look at some of the reaction Ofqual – the new exams watchdog
to chief inspector christine Gilbert’s comments (see In
response, below) and I also want to add my own views.
– officially came into existence. Chris Parr
First off, I would urge all teachers to ignore this report speaks to its chief executive, Kathleen Tattersall
because we all know that Ofsted’s perception of schools is
wide of the mark.
What I found unfathomable about the report was that
Ofqual has seldom been out of the answerable to parliament – not the
while it highlighted that the number of “outstanding”
headlines since Kathleen Tattersall secretary of state, and this brings
schools has risen from 11 to 19 per cent, and the number of
was unveiled as its first chair in greater authority.”
April 2008. Assent for the bill means that the
“inadequate” schools has fallen from eight to four per cent,
In fact, the new exams watchdog QcA has now officially been split
we still saw a raft of negative and dispiriting headlines. has been so active on the education into two separate organisations:
How so? It happened because the chief inspector in the
scene that last month’s Royal Ofqual, which will regulate
report and press statement lambasted a “stubborn core” of
Assent for the Apprenticeships, exams, and the Qualifications and
“inadequate teaching”.
skills, children and Learning Bill, curriculum development Agency,
which officially brought Ofqual which will develop curriculum
Phrases like this are a tabloid hack’s dream, and their
into existence, passed by virtually content.
emphasis by an organisation like Ofsted all but guarantee unnoticed. Ms Tattersall continued: “Under
their inclusion in national headlines. I wouldn’t mind if
This was despite schools the old system, there was a conflict
they were comments that fairly reflected the true story, but
minister, Vernon coaker, claiming of interests. An organisation cannot
that the creation of Ofqual was
they don’t. If you read the whole of the report, you will see
effectively regulate what it has
a “landmark event”, and that its designed and developed itself, and
that they do not reflect the overall findings, which are that
coming into being would allow also lay down the requirements for
inadequate teaching is rare. a “properly informed and mature provision of service.
Royal Assent: Ofqual
Yes, teachers can and do sometimes struggle in the
debate over exam standards” to take “In any good education and chief Kathleen Tattersall
classroom, but this is down to many, many reasons – lack
place for the first time. qualifications system, you need a
However, before being granted body to monitor it, and ensure the
of cPd, too much bureaucracy, schools which have not
assent, Ofqual had already qualifications are up to scratch.” that they can guarantee high quality how much exams cost, and can
embraced the remodelling agenda, the pressure of the unfair
published reports on a range of However, Ms Tattersall is under qualifications. require tough conditions to be met
and inaccurate league tables, and so on. topics, including the quality of no illusions when it comes to the “In the past, regulating if qualifications are to be judged
so where “inadequate” may exist, it is not always as
science exams, the reliability of size of the job that Ofqual has on bodies have looked at individual acceptable.
simple as saying that a teacher is not good enough. There
Gcse and A level results, and the its hands. qualifications, but we will be despite this, Ms Tattersall claims
criteria for functional skills. so “There is a limit to the number shifting the emphasis towards the that Ofqual will not flex its muscles
are almost always other factors.
what difference does the official of interventions we can make,” she awarding bodies. I don’t think we unless absolutely necessary.
To slam teachers in this blanket way and do it directly recognition actually make? told us. “We are an organisation
will give them a torrid time. One she told us: “Are we suddenly
in front of the nation’s press is demoralising and not
Ms Tattersall told us: “From of about 180 people trying to thing we do not want to do is going to become very macho now
conducive to inspiring teachers to improve.
the word go we acted as an regulate 140-plus awarding bodies, disrupt the qualification system.” the Bill has been passed? No. We
Ofsted does have a role to play, but I feel it should
independent regulator, and we were and thousands of individual However, following Royal are already working effectively in
very grateful that the Qualifications qualifications.” Assent, Ofqual does now have a particular ways, and this involves
be much more supportive of schools. In this era of
and curriculum Authority (QcA) To tackle this, Ms Tattersall says range of powers that, if used, could collaborating with both teachers
collaboration and co-operation in education, Ofsted should enabled us to do that. that exam awarding bodies – not cause a great deal of disruption. and awarding bodies. We need
be seen as the friendly critic, not as Witchhunter General.
“However, Royal Assent will individual courses – will be given Although the Bill stopped short to continue drawing on their
When you have an annual report that is actually very
put it in the mind of the general particular attention by the watchdog. of granting Ofqual the power to expertise.”
positive presented with a massive focus on the negative,
public that we are fully independent each body will be expected to meet fine awarding bodies, it does now For more information, visit
from the government. We are now strict criteria, designed to ensure have the ability to place a cap on www.ofqual.gov.uk SecEd
and thus resulting in a spate of unhelpful and misleading
headlines, I cannot help despair at how the system currently
operates.
IN rESpONSE…
Ten great years
Last week, challenge: to raise the quality of the does not turn safeguarding into a poor practice among their own SecEd reported on
the provision that is only satisfactory to tick-box exercise.” inspection teams. Unacceptable Annual Report of the chief
inspector for schools, Christine the level of good or outstanding. levels of stress and a real sense
Almost 300 calls a week. Almost 500 online interactions
Gilbert. Too many young people leave Martin Freedman, of injustice are frequently Association of Despite being positive
a day. All tackling issues ranging from financial difficulty,
on the improvements to the school without adequate basic Teachers and Lecturers: experienced by school leaders
quality skills and this can have a limiting “The comments about a ‘stubborn when dealing with Ofsted and its of learning in England’s
workload, stress and anxiety, to depression, bullying by
secondary schools, the report effect on their whole lives. There is core’ of ‘inadequate’ teaching do new framework.
colleagues, problems with parents, and pupil behaviour. made reference to a “stubborn still a stubborn core of inadequate not match the report’s findings We believe that every
The work of the Teacher support Network is nothing
core of inadequate teaching”. teaching and teaching that is only that inadequate teaching is rare. inspector should be either good
short of fantastic. And this week the charity celebrates the
The report said that 64 satisfactory. The new inspection Quite why Ofsted thinks insulting or outstanding and should at
10-year anniversary of its 24-hour support line.
per cent of secondary schools framework focuses sharply on this and demoralising those working least meet Ofsted’s own code
offer “good” or “outstanding” issue.” in education is the best way to of conduct. We are putting our
This simple, but crucial and effective service has
teaching and learning, improve young people’s education own systems in place to monitor
received 15,555 calls in the past year from educators compared to 58 per cent last Dr John Dunford, is puzzling. inspection quality and provide Association of
seeking advice and solace about any issue you can imagine.
year. School and College Leaders: We do not condone Ofsted with the critical friend it The number of state
In an ideal world there would be no need for TsN, and
secondary schools judged “The chief inspector’s annual unsatisfactory teaching, but needs to drive up standards.”
“inadequate” overall has report paints a picture of a school inspiring pupils is not made easier
teachers would be fully supported in their work. sadly
fallen from eight to four per and college system that has by overwhelming teachers with Chris Keates, NASUWT:
though this is not the case. Research in 1999, when the
cent, while “outstanding” improved substantially over the last bureaucracy, lesson planning “The commentary that surrounds
support line launched, showed that levels of stress among schools have increased from four years. On behaviour, against requirements, test results, league this report every year is hugely
the profession had reached critical levels, with teachers
11 to 19 per cent. a tough inspection framework, 80 tables, and inspections. demoralising for teachers The report
more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety and depression
also said that schools with a per cent of secondary schools are Ofsted needs to remind itself and school leaders. Whatever
higher proportion of pupils ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. that its role should be one of the report says, the focus is
than most other occupations. For many, this is still the case.
from deprived backgrounds The new framework for school a critical friend which has the always on any negative aspects,
As we all know, it is the highs of this profession that
were more likely to be judged inspections is proving tougher for interests of children and young despite the fact that there are
make it possible to handle the lows, but when and if you do inadequate.
schools. There can be no doubt that people at its heart, rather than very few in a picture which is
find yourself trapped in a teaching nadir, TsN is there 24-
the bar has been raised, especially stressing the negative without a overwhelmingly positive.
hours-a-day and covers the whole of the UK. TsN is filling
Christine Gilbert: for schools with challenging proper analysis of its findings.” This regular ‘talking down’
“I see evidence of sustained intakes. of teachers and state schools
a crucial gap in education and that is why SecEd supports,
improvement and I see The new inspection regime Lesley Gannon, National is not only totally unfair, it is
100 per cent, its work. SecEd excellence in the most difficult has become much more focused Association of Head grossly inaccurate. The report Teachers:
of circumstances. But across on safeguarding and there is a “Ofsted now claims that they demonstrates that even in the
• Pete Henshaw is editor of seced and delivering diplomas.
the range of Ofsted’s remit, high degree of anxiety in schools. wish to tackle mediocracy in context of the regular moving of
Email him at editor@sec-ed.co.uk or visit www.sec-ed.co.uk
there remains too much that schools always regard children’s our schools, though we suggest the goalposts by Ofsted, teachers
is mediocre and persistently safety as a top priority and it is that they first turn their attention and school leaders have delivered
and www.deliveringdiplomas.com
so. I am clear of the greatest important that the Ofsted process to addressing mediocracy and remarkable progress.”
6 SecEd • December 3 2009
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