EDUCATION
Ofsted judgments ‘fuel hire and fire culture’ in schools
One-word judgment system blamed for sudden management changes and forcing teachers out of the profession
The existing system of inspection reports should be abolished, a think tank said
BEN BIRCHALL/PA
Ofsted has “lost the trust” of teachers and needs a radical overhaul, the chairman of an inquiry into the watchdog has said.
Lord Knight of Weymouth, a former schools minister who is chairing the Beyond Ofsted inquiry, told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 that it was “time for a radical overhaul”.
He said: “There are other ways of doing this that don’t compromise on standards in any way, but are much more supportive and they’re based on trust, and could actually help turn around the drain of teachers leaving the profession at the moment.”
Lord Knight of Weymouth said that Ofsted was at present “operating on a culture of fear”
CHRIS MCANDREW/UK PARLIAMENT
The inquiry, which is sponsored by the National Education Union, was set up after the death of Ruth Perry, a head teacher, in response to widespread criticism of
