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The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), a prominent head teachers’ union in England, has called for an immediate suspension of graded Ofsted inspections. The union expressed growing alarm over the negative impact the inspections are having on the wellbeing and morale of its members. ASCL described the new grading system introduced by Ofsted as an “overbearing mess” and signaled that strike action could be considered if concerns remain unaddressed.
This move follows a similar stance from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which previously highlighted how the changes implemented in Ofsted inspections less than a year ago have severely affected the welfare of school leaders. ASCL has formally passed a motion of no confidence in the ability of Ofsted’s leadership to remedy the harm caused by the latest inspection framework. Pepé Di’Iasio, the ASCL general secretary, emphasized that the union’s decision was not taken lightly but criticized Ofsted for failing to match reassuring comments about wellbeing with effective action. He stated, “The current system is not fit for purpose. It is an overbearing mess and urgently needs to be reviewed.”
In response, Ofsted acknowledged the ongoing challenges related to workload and staff wellbeing, affirming their commitment to working with the Department for Education (DfE) and school leaders to improve the inspection process. The DfE also reiterated the importance of accountability measures being “fair, proportionate and focused on helping every school get better.” The introduction of the new report card grading system last November came after the tragic death of head teacher Ruth Perry, whose inquest ruled that an Ofsted inspection had contributed to her taking her own life. This change shifted the focus away from a single overall grade to multiple graded areas to provide a more nuanced evaluation of schools.
While an independent review commissioned by Ofsted recently found that many school leaders viewed the new framework positively and appreciated its more collaborative approach, concerns remain significant. Nearly half of the surveyed leaders reported that their staff’s mental health had been adversely affected following inspections. Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s chief inspector, maintained that the current data indicated the organization was progressing in the right direction but stressed the ongoing challenges of workload and wellbeing. Both Ofsted and the DfE pledged to continue listening to feedback from education professionals as they seek further improvements to the inspection system
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