Amanda Spielman, the head of Ofsted, has stated that the “social contract” between parents and schools has become damaged. Ms Spielman, who is leaving the post at the end of the year, believes that the “unwritten agreement” recognising that families should ensure their children attend school and respect its rules, while the school provides a good education, “will take time to restore”. She also noted that increasingly, parents are challenging school policies and showing less respect for rules.
Ms Spielman’s final annual report reflects a “broadly positive picture” of education in England but highlights declining attendance, behaviour, and attitudes towards education since the pandemic. She believes it will be essential to restore the social contract to continue the progress that schools have made.
Over the academic year 2022-23, 22.3% of pupils were “persistently absent,” missing at least 10% of lessons. Before the pandemic, the percentage was slightly over 10%.
Ms Spielman expressed concern about an increase in the use of part-time timetables. While the government has said that part-time schooling should only be used in exceptional circumstances and not as a punishment for poor behaviour, Ms Spielman said that the increase was partly due to delays in getting assessments for “school refusal” or special educational needs and disabilities.
She also noted that Ofsted’s powers to investigate and close illegal unregistered schools remain limited, despite every one of her previous annual reports highlighting concerns. Ofsted has received more complaints from parents about school policies and has called for “greater central guidance” on contentious issues
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