CYP Now - Opinion: Vox pop - Will annual inspections be a burden for schools?

Almost half of England's schools could face annual inspections to help raise academic standards, Ofsted's chief inspector Christine Gilbert has announced. But will this be a help or a hindrance for all those involved?

YES: Mary Bousted, general secretary, Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Schools do not improve as a result of constant inspection. Currently, Ofsted punishes the schools that are doing good work in the most difficult circumstances, particularly those in socially deprived areas. Instead of being named and shamed, schools that have challenging intakes should receive continuous support and extra resources to improve.

Ofsted in its current form is past its sell-by-date. Just as you cannot increase the size of your marrow by weighing it, you cannot improve a school through inspection. NO: Michael Gove, Conservative MP and the shadow children's secretary

Inspections, when properly conducted, are vital for identifying poorly performing schools and helping to set them on the path to improvement. They are a crucial means by which schools can be held accountable.

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