Send us your views on OFSTED and email your MP
Let your MP know about the problems with the new Ofsted framework
The NUT has been flooded with letters and emails from teachers concerned about the new Ofsted inspection framework. We have received many shocking stories about how it has been applied in schools.
It is important that members of Parliament are aware of the problems with the new framework too so the Union drafted an Early Day Motion which was tabled in Parliament by Frank Dobson MP on 9 February. You can view here the text of the Motion and also a list of those MPs that are supporting it.
Please show your support for a school evaluation system that supports rather than punishes schools by e-mailing your MP here .
-----------------------------------------------
Read the latest NUT News, Special Edition on Ofsted (Spring 2010)
Download a copy of the 8 page Ofsted Action Plan here.
-----------------------------------------------]
Ofsted's decision to 'raise the bar' in its new Inspection Framework, introduced in September, is causing anger and fear among teachers. The NUT has received a number of reports that inspectors are using trivial issues to downgrade schools. NUT General Secretary Christine Blower has written to both Christine Gilbert, the Chief Inspector, and Ed Balls expressing her extreme concern about this situation. Examples the Union has received include:
- schools being marked down for failing to record centrally employed staff on the single central register;
- the Lead Inspector, on entering a school on the first day, marking down the school because the head has not immediately asked for their Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check;
- inspectors paying little attention to Contextual Value Added (CVA) data and just concentrating on raw results; and
- a first school being marked down because of the low height of its perimeter fence.
The NUT is determined that this situation should not continue. It urges all members who have experienced unfair inspections to e-mail their experiences to inspections@nut.org.uk. Alternatively send us your experiences using the online form.
All examples will be anonymised, unless you indicate otherwise. The OFSTED complaints helpline number is 08456 404040 and full information about making complaints is available at
Written complaints should be emailed to Ofsted at enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk
