Ofsted inspections easer in ’Leafy catchments’, says school minister

Laws claimed that the system had to be made fairer because it would be ‘fatal’ if the threat of a bad Ofsted inspection deterred people from working in schools that are regarded as tougher. He said, if this was happening, it could “make it very unattractive for some of our best people and the best leaders to go and teach in challenging schools.”

Laws said: “If the Ofsted process is weighting prior attainment too much, making it easier for schools in leafy catchments, bluntly, to do well and tougher for schools in more challenging catchments. That’s a real problem.”

During the conference, the schools minister admitted to being open about the possibility of a peer-to-peer school improvement system, but maintained reservations.

He said: “The test is whether it’s possible for you to do that professionally. It is difficult for groups sometimes when you’re assessing people who work together, who are part of the same profession, who are in very testing occupations where the accountability thing is really high stakes, it’s difficult sometimes to shine the light that needs to be shone.”