Ofsted ‘recognises the challenge of running tough schools’

Ofsted Chief inspector Amanda Spielman has recognised the excellent leadership and management it takes to turn around schools in areas of high disadvantage.

Speaking at the Learning to Shape Birmingham conference, Spielman was keen to debunk the “myth” that schools in more deprived areas are disadvantaged when they are inspected.

She said that schools in the ‘good’ category, those with the toughest intakes are twice as likely to be rated ‘outstanding’ for leadership and management than those with more advantaged intakes. She also commented that schools in the ‘Requires Improvement’ category with the toughest intakes are two and a half times more likely to be graded good for leadership and management than those with the most affluent intake.

She said what Ofsted can do “is recognise that it takes a very effective leadership and management team to turn around those schools.”

Spielman said: “We recognise the challenge of running tough schools; it comes through clearly in how we judge the effectiveness of leadership and management. And we will be putting more emphasis on this particular judgement than we have done in the past, to make clear that no head, manager or teacher should be penalised for working in a challenging school.”

She continued: “I’d like to ask for your help with this, to tackle the myth that Ofsted does not recognise the challenge of running disadvantaged schools. And to spread the word that we to want to encourage ambitious, talented people to work in our toughest schools.”