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Friday 04 May 2007 @ 09:30
Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
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Pupil poll and independent assessment of Ofsted's work demonstrate support for inspection but also point the way to improvement
More than three quarters of schools surveyed for an independent, external evaluation of school inspection felt that inspection contributed to school improvement, or was likely to contribute in the future.
Of more than 1,500 schools surveyed for today’s report by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), the majority said that the main way inspection contributed was by confirming, prioritising and clarifying areas for improvement. The report, Impact of Section 5 inspections: maintained schools in England, highlights that schools recognised that it was useful for parents, local communities and staff to have their judgements confirmed by an external and objective body.
The findings of an Ipsos MORI poll, commissioned by Ofsted to evaluate pupils’ views of inspection, are also published today. Questionnaires returned by 2,332 school children revealed that favourability towards school inspections is high, with 70 per cent of pupils in favour of inspection. Of those, the majority said the reason they were in favour was that inspection helps schools to improve.
Just over two-thirds of young people in England have heard of Ofsted, which is an increase in awareness since 2004. Just over three in five pupils think a shorter notice period before an Ofsted inspection is a good idea, while around one in five think it is not.
Miriam Rosen, Ofsted’s Director of Education, said:
“There are many factors that contribute to school improvement, not least the commitment and hard work of school staff, but today’s report from the National Foundation for Educational Research provides independent confirmation that inspection has a positive impact.
“The vast majority of schools were satisfied with their inspections overall and found the process to be useful and helpful, and the written report fair and accurate. It is also pleasing to see that 70 per cent of pupils surveyed for the Ipsos MORI poll were in favour of inspection.”
"However, today's reports and opinion poll show that there is still work for us to do. We will continue to seek the views of parents, teachers and young people to ensure that we take their concerns into account."
Today’s report by the NFER is the first major, independent report that looks at the impact of the shorter, sharper school inspections introduced by Ofsted in September 2005. The report finds that the majority of schools surveyed agreed with inspection recommendations and considered them helpful. Follow–up interviews with 36 schools showed that almost all were implementing all or most of the recommendations.
Schools felt that the self-evaluation form (SEF) was an effective and helpful means of self-evaluation. One headteacher said: “I think the SEF is the best thing since sliced bread! It’s tough and time-consuming to do but it’s a great exercise.”
Over half of schools found oral feedback from inspectors very useful. Three fifths of schools thought the shorter, sharper inspections were less stressful than the previous system.
Parents valued an independent assessment of their children’s schools and the ease with which they could read inspection reports. The letter that Ofsted inspectors write to pupils following an inspection was generally appreciated by pupils.
Ofsted has also published its own evaluation of the impact of inspection today. Review of the impact of inspectionevaluates the impact of Ofsted inspections of childcare, schools, colleges and initial teacher training (ITT) and joint area reviews of local authorities.
This report finds that judging providers against national standards has increased the proportion of good independent schools, childminders and day-care settings and decreased the number that are inadequate. Inspections of ITT have taken place since 1994, and since then most providers have moved to a position where their courses are good or better. Newer inspection regimes, such as those for children and young people’s services, have rapidly made an impact on systems and attitudes, though it will take longer to make a difference to outcomes.
The NFER’s report provides useful pointers for refining the process of inspection and increasing its impact. Ofsted will take these very seriously and where appropriate will act upon them.
In particular, Ofsted will:
- keep the processes of self-evaluation and completion of the self-evaluation form (SEF), and the support and advice provided for schools, under close review
- further review and develop the guidance for inspectors on the use and interpretation of performance data for schools
- give greater emphasis to oral feedback and dialogue in induction, training and guidance for inspectors
- emphasise the important of making the recommendations in inspection reports specific and helpful.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Impact of Section 5 inspections: maintained schools in England, Review of the impact of inspection and the Ipsos MORI School Omnibus Survey 2007 will be published on the Ofsted website at 00.01am on Friday 4 May 2007.
2. The NFER report is based on a survey of 1,597 schools inspected between October 2005 and March 2006, visits to 36 schools where interviews were conducted with 169 headteachers, senior managers, governors and parents and 243 pupils. Follow-up interview with headteachers or senior managers were also carried out as was statistical modelling of survey responses and desk top reviews.
3. The Ipsos MORI findings are based on questionnaires completed by 2,332 school children aged between 11 and 16 in England. The questionnaires were completed in 96 classroom settings between 15 January and 20 March 2007.
4. On 1 April 2007 a new single inspectorate for children and learners was created. It has responsibility for the inspection of adult learning and training – work formerly undertaken by the Adult Learning Inspectorate; the regulation and inspection of children’s social care – work formerly undertaken by the Commission for Social Care Inspection; the inspection of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service – work formerly undertaken by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Court Administration; and the former regulatory and inspection activities of Ofsted.
