Letter: School inspectors fail the test
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.School inspectors fail the test
Sir: You report (1 February) that fewer than 1 per cent of teachers "can't teach". In my experience of Ofsted as a parent, the inspector can't inspect, and the Ofsted questionnaire for parents doesn't ask the simplest and most obvious question.
I have two sons at Pimlico School. Three weeks ago I was at a well-attended meeting for parents held as part of the school's current Ofsted inspection. The inspector found it hard not to interject. As rapporteur he trivialised important points. His idea of structuring the meeting was to seek out criticism of the school - which generally wasn't forthcoming.
In his manipulation of the parents' meeting, the inspector's approach echoes the questionnaire. This takes the form of 12 statements with which the respondent is invited to agree or disagree on a five-point scale. Not one refers to the performance of the school as a whole. Not one raises the simple issue: "The school is doing a good job. Agree or Disagree?"
The questionnaire design makes it impossible for respondents to acknowledge the obvious fact that schools don't operate in a vacuum. For example, at Pimlico as elsewhere, parents take views on the setting of homework in the light of what they know about the availability of textbooks and other resources. But the inspectorate seems to assume that parents are too dim to understand such qualifications.
Are Chris Woodhead and his inspectorate capable of listening?
AUBREY NUNES
London SW2
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments