CYP Now - OPINION: Inspection culture should be open to change

Having recently witnessed my partner, who is a governor of a primary school, preparing for an Ofsted inspection, I can only guess at the weight of the burden that must fall on teachers in such circumstances.

For weeks on end there were meetings, to-ings and fro-ings and after-hours work to ensure the school would be viewed in the best light once the inspectors arrived.

So the proposals to reform the inspection process, published by Ofsted last week, seem eminently sensible. More frequent, shorter inspections with minimal notice will be less stressful for staff, provide parents with more up-to-date information and allow schools to focus on what they do best: providing a good learning environment for children.

After 12 years of Ofsted such proposals seem radical. But they suggest a lighter-touch approach rather than a change in direction. They won't alter the culture of inspection but merely sweeten the pill.

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