Ofsted: a problem in search of a solution
FORUM - Print ISSN 1469-7149 - Online ISSN 2047-7171
Volume 62 Number 3 (2020)
Ofsted: a problem in search of a solution
MARY BOUSTED pages 433‑444
DOI: 10.15730/forum.2020.62.3.433
Abstract
Established in 1992, Ofsted is championed by government ministers as the guardian of educational standards in schools and colleges. Ofsted has never produced any research on the validity of its inspection judgements. Ofsted has no evidence, other than rising percentages of schools being awarded positive Ofsted grades, to support its assertion that inspection 'raises standards and improves lives'. Questions are increasingly being asked about the extent to which Ofsted judgements are a fair reflection on the quality of education provided by schools serving disadvantaged pupil intakes. The very poor teacher retention rates in early career lead to further questions about the extent to which Ofsted increases teacher workload and stress. Ofsted's attempts to react to criticism of its practices and outcomes have led to the agency adopting multiple inspection frameworks in a short period of time. There is no evidence, to date, that Ofsted has found adequate solutions to the serious problems its inspection practices and outcomes have with regard to standards of education in English schools.
To cite this article
MARY BOUSTED (2020) Ofsted: a problem in search of a solution, FORUM, 62(3), 433-444 . https://doi.org/10.15730/forum.2020.62.3.433