New Ofsted focus on focus on curriculum and behaviour

Ofsted has revealed the outcome of the consultation on its new education inspection framework, outlining a focus on how results are achieved, rather than the results themselves.

Taking effect from September 2019, Ofsted will refocus inspections of schools, early years settings and further education and skills providers, to make sure that learners are receiving a high-quality education that puts them on a path to future success.

This means that inspectors will spend less time looking at exam results and test data, and more time considering how a nursery, school, college or other education provider has achieved their results.

Following three-month public consultation, Ofsted confirmed that it will pursue a headline proposal for a new ‘quality of education’ judgement, after it received strong support from three-quarters of respondents. A similar number of respondents also expressed support for plans to introduce two new key judgements, evaluating learners’ ‘behaviour and attitudes’ separately from their ‘personal development’.

This judgement will assess whether leaders are creating a calm and orderly environment, where bullying is tackled effectively by leaders when it occurs. While the ‘personal development’ judgement will recognise the work early years providers, schools and colleges do to build young people’s resilience and confidence in later life, including through participation in sport, music and extra-curricular activities.

Amanda Spielman said: “This was the largest-ever consultation Ofsted has undertaken and I am very grateful to all those who took the time to respond. The new framework puts the real substance of education at the heart of inspection and supports leaders and teachers who act with integrity. We hope early years, schools and college leaders will no longer feel the need to generate and analyse masses of internal data for inspection. Instead, we want them to spend their time teaching and making a real difference to children’s lives, which is why they entered the profession in the first place.

“Our goal is really simple: to be a force for improvement through our inspections. We want to provide parents with the assurance they need, support teachers and leaders to excel – and help make sure all children and learners to get the education they deserve.”