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The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) is initiating legal action against Ofsted regarding proposed modifications to the inspection process for schools in England. These alterations include the introduction of new school report cards to replace the previous one or two-word judgements. NAHT’s general secretary, Paul Whiteman, criticized the proposed changes, describing them as another form of “crude grading” that would increase pressure on school leaders and should be discarded. In response, Ofsted emphasized the importance of mental health support within the proposed reforms and dismissed NAHT’s legal claims as “plainly untenable.”
Over the weekend, NAHT filed a claim with the High Court seeking a judicial review as educators congregated for the union’s national conference in Harrogate. This decision follows the tragic death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life following an Ofsted inspection. A letter endorsed by Prof Julia Waters and over 30 others, including general secretaries of four teaching unions, warned that the proposed changes could further deteriorate the wellbeing of educational staff and consequently impact students’ school experience negatively. Whiteman urged Ofsted’s Chief, Sir Martyn Oliver, to reconsider the proposals and abandon the current model.
While emphasizing the importance of accountability, Whiteman criticized Ofsted’s suggested approach as the sole method to evaluate schools, labeling it as “utter nonsense.” He urged for a reevaluation of the proposals and a fresh perspective. A discussion regarding the proposed changes was to take place during the NAHT conference, with the introduction of Ofsted’s revamped report cards aiming to assess various aspects of schools such as quality of education, behavior, personal development, and leadership. These reports will now feature five potential grades ranked from causing concern to exemplary, along with an assessment of safeguarding duties. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson believes the new system will offer comprehensive insights to tailor support for struggling schools.
Ofsted recently concluded its consultation on the proposed changes as they highlight mental health support as a crucial aspect of their development. The agency’s legal team responded adamantly to NAHT’s claims, deeming them unsustainable. If legal action ensues, Ofsted intends to push back and seek costs
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