Views sought on changes to inspection framework for teacher training

Ofsted has published a consultation on a new approach to inspecting initial teacher education (ITE).

The draft framework has been developed to align with Ofsted’s new education inspection framework (EIF) and the Department for Education’s standards and frameworks for ITT and early career teachers.

Ofsted's Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, said: "While no new teacher is completely ready when they first step into a classroom, high-quality teacher training gives them a solid grounding so that they can begin inspiring the next generation.

"We want to make sure our ITE inspections provide the best measure of the quality of education and training that trainees get. We’ve designed what we hope is a clear and user-friendly framework that assesses the things that matter most.

"The new framework reflects the shift in focus of our education inspections from outcomes to the substance of education. It removes aspects of inspection that do not genuinely assess the quality of teacher training. This will help make sure ITE partnerships’ are focused on the things that have the greatest impact on trainees’ education and, ultimately, children and young people."

Ofsted is seeking views whether to introduce a new ‘quality of education and training’ judgement, with a focus on the ITE curriculum, to replace two current judgements.

Views are also sought on applying a new methodology for gathering inspection evidence, and a possibility of a single visit, four-day inspection, announced three days in advance.

It also wants to know if short and long telephone conversations should be part of inspection preparation, and whether inspections should only be done in spring and summer terms.

The consultation is open for 10 weeks and will close on 3 April. Ofsted is seeking the views of a wide range of respondents, and would like to hear from trainee and newly qualified teachers, ITE partnerships, headteachers and other employers.

Subject to the consultation, the new ITE framework will be published in summer 2020, introduced from September 2020, with inspections beginning in January 2021.