Ofsted chief hits back at criticism of inspections as she warns schools are gaming system to boost results

The Ofsted chief has hit back at criticism from school leaders over inspections, as she warns schools are gaming the system to boost exam results.

Amanda Spielman, chief inspector of Ofsted, has said schools are narrowing the curriculum to improve their league table positions rather than serving the best interests of pupils.

Some schools are requiring nearly all pupils to take an English for Speakers of Other Languages qualification despite being native English speakers, while another school forced all pupils to take sports science at GCSE even if they had no interest in the subject.

At the launch of her annual report, Ms Spielman said exam grades are “hollow” if pupils have not received a well-rounded education, adding that poor children are not helped by turning a “blind-eye” to schools that get good results but offer a narrow curriculum.

Ofsted’s new inspection regime, introduced in September, which focuses more on the quality of education on offer rather than exam results, has come under fire from school bosses.

An award-winning headteacher resigned last week after Ofsted inspectors graded the school as “requires improvement” despite improving its GCSE results.

The watchdog criticised Bramhall High School near Stockport for allowing pupils to start their GCSEs in Year 9 as they said it “restricted” learning.

Leaders of academy chains have also recently accused Ofsted of favouring middle-class children with its new inspection regime.

The chief executives of the Harris Federation and Outwood Grange are concerned that schools are being marked down for giving pupils three years to study for the exams rather than two as they say starting GCSE preparation earlier can help pupils on free school meals.

But in response to the criticism, Ms Spielman said: “We must not succumb to the seductive but wrong-headed logic that we are helping disadvantaged children by turning a blind eye to schools that are narrowing education, if they deliver acceptable grades at the end.

“Grades are hollow if they don't reflect a proper education underneath.”

Ofsted's annual report also raised concerns about science in primary schools.

The subject was removed from Sats tests taken at the end of primary school a decade ago.

This move may account for a slight fall in England's science results in international Pisa tests, which are taken by 15-year-olds around the world, the report will suggest.