Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has apologised that schools will no longer get a full term’s notice before the watchdog launches its new inspections.
Tes revealed last month that Ofsted has delayed publishing its finalised plans for its new inspection framework until the start of the next academic year but is still aiming to start the new inspections from November.
This means that schools will no longer get the equivalent of a term’s notice, which Ofsted had said it would provide when it first launched its consultation.
Speaking today at the Festival of Education, Sir Martyn said that he was “sorry” about this but added that it was his job “to inspect”, not to “say when or how I inspect”.
‘Some changes’ to Ofsted inspection plans
Sir Martyn told delegates at the festival in Berkshire that “there will be some changes from the proposals we published back in February”.
Ofsted announced plans earlier this year to inspect schools on 11 different areas across a five-point scale when it launches its report cards later this year.
However, the school watchdog has already agreed to revise the inspection toolkits it will use to decide on school grades, as Tes revealed earlier this year.
The chief inspector also defended Ofsted’s decision to introduce a new inspection framework in November.
“We could have taken another one or two more years, but that wasn’t what the system was saying. The system was saying that Ofsted needed urgent and quick reform,” Sir Martyn said.
He told the conference that the published proposals “would be just the beginnings, just the foundations” of the final framework, and he asked schools to judge him on what is published in September.
Unions have called on Ofsted to delay the launch of inspection report cards until the 2026-27 academic year.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has cautioned the chief inspector to “keep to expected timescales” after she told him she was “disappointed” by the delay in Ofsted publishing its consultation findings. This came in an exchange of letters last month.
Inclusion ‘doesn’t mean soft on behaviour’
Sir Martyn reasserted the importance of inspecting inclusion in the upcoming framework, adding that it will be a “central tenet”.
He said inclusion is about “belonging and thriving”, but it does not mean “being soft on behaviour or attendance”.
The Ofsted chief also emphasised that safeguarding is an “absolutely fundamental part” of what Ofsted looks at in inspections.
“Nothing infuriates me more than the glib commentary about schools falling short in inspection because of duff paperwork” or “schools pulling the wool over inspectors’ eyes because their paperwork isn’t on point”, Sir Martyn said.
“Anyone who works in schools knows safeguarding starts with relationships.”
Labour has said it will introduce new annual safeguarding, attendance and off-rolling reviews.
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