Facing an Ofsted inspection?

The NUT has been successful in gaining assurances from Ofsted on the new framework, particularly on the key issues of attainment and achievement and safeguarding.

Safeguarding

On safeguarding, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert has confirmed that "safeguarding grades of satisfactory or good do not limit the overall effectiveness to those grades… a school judged to be satisfactory in its safeguarding arrangements may still be judged to be outstanding…".

Some members had told us that, despite their school having met the statutory requirements for safeguarding, it had been downgraded to ‘inadequate’. Ofsted are clear that such a judgement should not be made in those circumstances.

Attainment and achievement

On attainment, Christine Gilbert has said: "A school may be judged to be outstanding if attainment is average, or even low, provided that learning and progress are outstanding… all schools, whatever their circumstances, have the opportunity to be judged outstanding for their overall effectiveness… There is nothing in the evaluation schedule or the guidance we have issued to inspectors which suggests otherwise."

Members and school representatives should contact their division/association or their regional office if they do not think that inspectors are taking sufficient account of children’s actual progress in their learning.

Early Day Motion (EDM)

It is important that members of Parliament are aware of the problems with the new Ofsted framework. The NUT drafted an EDM, which was tabled in Parliament on 9 February. Please go to www.teachers.org.uk/ofsted to email your MP and ask them to sign EDM 845 "Ofsted’s new inspection framework for schools".

Let us know your views

If your Ofsted inspection paints a picture of your school that you don’t recognise, we want to know. Please contact your NUT association/division secretary or your regional office. Also, please keep your views coming to inspections@nut.org.uk

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said:

"The NUT is determined to raise members’ concerns with Ofsted.We want a school evaluation system that supports schools, rather than punishing them. Ofsted has made it absolutely clear that a complaint by a school against unfair judgements or the conduct of inspectors will not be detrimental to the school. If your Ofsted inspection paints a picture of your school that you don’t recognise, we want to know."

NUT News - Ofsted Special Edition - Spring 2010

Fair Play for Children in Wales

NUT pressure wins assurances from WAG but funding gap widens

“I want to make sure that we spend the right amount of money on education, so I am making a commitment in this manifesto to spend 1 per cent above the block grant every year until we reach a situation where we have parity of funding per head of pupils in England.” Carwyn Jones, First Minister for Wales

“I want to see more funding going to schools.”
Leighton Andrews, Education Minister

The NUT Cymru campaign demanding Fair Play for Children in Wales has highlighted the indefensible disparity in funding provision between Wales and England.

This campaign has already made a significant impact, with the new First Minister Carwyn Jones and the Education Minister Leighton Andrews pledging to increase school funding to achieve parity with the amount spent in England.

The NUT welcomes this news. However, the gap in per pupil funding between England and Wales has widened to £527, according to January 2010 figures. If the First Minister is to deliver on his pledge there needs to be a greater increase in spending than the promised 1 per cent above the block grant. The NUT calls upon Carwyn Jones and his Ministers to recognise that fact and put in place immediate, realistic proposals to make sure it happens.

“The significant funding difficulties require urgent action if Wales is to achieve parity in its education provision with that enjoyed elsewhere. NUT Cymru will continue to campaign for fair funding. The First Minister’s pledge is not enough as the gap is too great and continues to widen. The children of Wales need more money to be delivered to the front line of education now. Realistic proposals and real action are needed before it is too late.”

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers

Go to www.teachers.org.uk/walesfunding to sign our petition.

STOP PRESS: January 2010 figures show the funding gap has widened from £496 to £527 – an alarming 6.25 per cent increase.

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