1. Ofsted: ‘Dispelling Myths’
Emma Ing HMI,
Regional Director
East Midlands
@emmainghmi
EMTSA June 2017

2. Today… How we inspect schools Common features of good and outstanding schools Next steps

3. How does Ofsted inspect schools?

4. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOL INSPECTION
What work does Ofsted do in schools?
Two-day inspection (full section 5)
‘Short’ inspection (one day section 8)
Monitoring visits to inadequate schools, schools that require improvement and where there are indications that raise concern (S8 no formal designation).
EMTSA June 2017

5. HOW INSPECTORS KNOW WHAT TO DO AND SCHOOLS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
Section 5 handbook for standard two day inspections
EMTSA June 2017

6. HOW INSPECTORS KNOW WHAT TO DO AND SCHOOLS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
Section 8 handbook for short inspections and monitoring visits
EMTSA June 2017

7. WHAT ARE WE JUDGING? FULL TWO-DAY INSPECTION
Teaching, learning and assessment
Outcomes for pupils
Personal development, behaviour and welfare
Leadership and Management
Early Years and/or Effectiveness of sixth form
vs. SHORT INSPECTION
Whether the school remains good
Whether safeguarding is effective
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8. PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION
Previous Complaints
How long ago?
How many?
What sort?
We do not investigate specific complaints on inspection
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9. PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION
Local Authority Report on children’s services
How long ago?
What were the judgements?
Are their implications for the school’s records in terms of contact with external agencies such as social care?
EMTSA June 2017

10. PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION
The school’s previous inspection report
Note when, and leadership
Strengths
Areas for improvement
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11. PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION
School’s website
Academies
Maintained schools
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12. PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION
Outcomes for pupils
Inspection Dashboard
ANY STRENGTHS
ANY WEAKNESSES
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13. PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION
Outcomes for pupils
The importance
of progress
Different groups
Disadvantaged pupils
Most-able, least-able
and middle ability
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14. PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION
Outcomes for pupils
Attendance
Exclusions
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15. PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION
School’s Improvement plan?
KEY LINES OF ENQUIRY
Absence and Exclusions
Website
Data on outcomes
KEY LINES OF ENQUIRY
Previous inspection report
School’s self evaluation?
EMTSA June 2017

16. WHAT IS OFSTED NOT DOING?
Ofsted inspections-clarification for schools
We are very conscious that while inspection has benefits and adds value there can also be disbenefits.
So let’s have a think about this….
What are the benefits of Ofsted
Independent expertise, holding a mirror, offering insight and challenge, helpful conversations
Recognising and celebrating good and outstanding practice
Identifying where things are not working at local, school and system level – shining a light
Identifying capacity for improvement
Putting issues on a national agenda
Advising/challenging government
But some disbenefits are also there
Stifling creativity
Fear – places a burden, creates extra workload, means things are done for Ofsted, not for the children
Sometimes thought to be driving a government agenda – or second order policy
Quality assurance
Sometimes, not often, we might be perceived as inconsistent
EMTSA June 2017

17. Myth-busting
Inspectors must not advocate a particular method of planning, teaching or assessment
Lesson planning – no specific requirements to produce plans for Ofsted, no requirement about how planning is set out, inspectors assess impact
Self-evaluation – for schools to determine format and business as usual for the school
Lesson observations – no grading of lessons, teaching or outcomes in a lesson
Pupils’ work and marking – no specific requirements for quantity, frequency or type.
EMTSA June 2017

18. THE INSPECTION - ACTIVITIES
Looking at learning in lessons and in books
We do not make a judgement on teachers or lessons
We do not expect to see a particular style or approach
Are pupils learning and making progress?
What is the impact?
Talk to pupils and look in their books
Is learning appropriate for pupils’ needs? Are pupils being challenged?
Do they understand when they have made a mistake and how to improve?
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19. THE INSPECTION - ACTIVITIES
Hearing pupils read
Can pupils apply phonics skills?
Are the most able pupils being challenged?
Do pupils enjoy reading?
How often do they read? What do they read?
Are their reading skills being developed to help them learn across the curriculum?
EMTSA June 2017

20. THE INSPECTION - ACTIVITIES
Speaking to pupils and observing their behaviour around the school
Pupils’ views count
How are they learning?
Do they feel safe?
Are they being well prepared for life in modern Britain?
How do they behave and interact with each other and adults?
Do they feel prepared for their next steps in education?
EMTSA June 2017

21. THE INSPECTION - ACTIVITIES
Examining school documentation and records
Performance data – current pupils – progress from starting points compared to national expectations
Disadvantaged pupils, the most able, pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities
Attendance
Staff training
Minutes of governing body meetings and external reports
Bullying and behaviour logs
The curriculum: does it meet pupils’ needs
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22. THE INSPECTION - ACTIVITIES
Meetings
The headteacher, senior, middle leaders and teachers
Governors/Trustees representatives from LA or MAT
Pupils and parents
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23. THE INSPECTION - ACTIVITIES
SAFEGUARDING
What do we do to judge that safeguarding is effective?
Recruitment checks on staff
Staff training
The school’s safeguarding policy
Case files – the school’s work with outside agencies
Risk assessments
Informing pupils how to keep safe
Support for vulnerable pupils and their families
Culture
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24. THE INSPECTION - CONVERSION
On what grounds do we decide to convert a short inspection to a full two-day inspection?
If the school may be outstanding
If more evidence is needed to be sure the school is still good
If there are any safeguarding concerns or evidence suggests the school is less than good
EMTSA June 2017

25. What is Ofsted looking for….?

26. What does Ofsted look for?
Nothing specific and nothing special for inspection, just a good school doing a good job by its pupils: making sure that they are safe and doing as well as they possibly can.
Do what you do, well. Know why you are doing it and how you are making things better for pupils.
EMTSA June 2017

27. What might that look like? Great leadership
Clear accountability – great teaching
Vision and stakeholder engagement
Ethos
High expectations
Curriculum that meets needs and IAG
Personalised support
Systems to underpin – data management
Safe pupils
Children need to be safe
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28. Common features of outstanding schools

29. Outstanding schools
Inspirational leadership focused on getting the best for pupils underpinned by: strong vision, drive, great relationships and clear accountability structures
Great teamwork by leaders and staff at all levels who sign up to achieve the vision – creating a positive culture for improvement
High expectations of every pupil
Tailored teaching and strategies to support individuals without losing sight of all pupils
Exciting curricula and fun learning – a sense of the future being made here.
EMTSA June 2017

30. Changes to short inspections
Changes to short inspection consultation

31. The current landscape
Since September 2015, Ofsted has inspected good schools using short inspections under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005.
Short inspections start from the assumption that the school remains good.
Short inspections last for one day and the purpose is to determine whether the school continues to provide a good standard of education for the pupils and that safeguarding is effective.
A short inspection does not result in individual graded judgements. It does not change the overall effectiveness grade of the school. Since their introduction, two thirds of short inspections have confirmed that the school continues to be a good school without the need for any additional inspection activity.
Where an inspector has insufficient evidence to confirm that the school remains good, or believes the school may be outstanding, then the short inspection converts to a section 5 inspection, with a larger team returning to the school within 48 hours.
Approximately three in 10 short inspections convert to a section 5 inspection. Over a quarter of section 5 inspections following conversion have resulted in the school remaining good, while a further quarter have improved to outstanding. 40% decline to RI and a further 10% decline to inadequate.
School senior leaders tell us that they understand and support short inspections. Ofsted regularly gathers the views of school leaders: in 2016, 78% of senior leaders told us that short inspections for good schools had been a positive change in the way Ofsted inspects, compared to 71% in Short inspections take a proportionate approach based on the assumption that a school continues to be good. They are collaborative and they encourage constructive and professional dialogue between inspectors and school leaders.
The cumulative impact of this is that they are less confrontational and less high-stakes than previous approaches to inspection. This information was gathered by YouGov in June 2016 in response to a commission from Ofsted.
[These arrangements apply to all good schools, and also all good and outstanding special schools, pupil referral units and maintained nursery schools, because outstanding schools of this type are not exempt from inspection.]
Changes to short inspection consultation

32. Proposed changes
We will continue short inspections and conversions, however we propose two changes:
Extend the window for the conversion of short inspections into section 5 inspections to take place within a maximum of 15 working days after the short inspection, from the current 48 hour period. AND
Some good schools to receive a section 5 inspection instead of a short inspection where Ofsted’s risk assessment indicates that inspectors may need to gather more evidence to reach a judgement about the school.
However, we want to make some changes to address the issues schools and inspectors have raised with us that are caused by the practical challenges of conducting conversions within 48 hours.
There are three main issues:
Impact on serving school leaders who are Ofsted Inspectors: Inspection schedules often change at the last minute, which can mean standing down Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) at short notice. OIs are typically busy school leaders who have booked time off to inspect, and these last minute changes are frustrating and impractical. Many OIs say they would like to lead more short inspections, but they are put off by the uncertainty in whether a short inspection will convert.
Impact on heads and school leaders of a quick conversion: The decision to convert a short inspection is usually taken mid-afternoon, and a team of inspectors then arrives on site early the next day. School leaders tell us this experience can be overwhelming. It can be a particular burden on large schools, where up to eight inspectors are needed for the full inspection.
A proportion of good schools are surprised by our assumption that they remain good: In about 20% of cases, before a short inspection takes place it is already clear that a school is facing complex circumstances that warrant a full inspection. In these cases, moving straight to a full inspection would be less disruptive for the school and a better use of Ofsted’s resources.
Changes to short inspection consultation

33. Proposal 1: short inspection conversion inspections within 15 working days
Short inspections that convert to a section 5 inspection will now do so within a period of up to 15 working days of the short inspection. The conversion inspection would be at any point during that period, although we will aim to carry it out as soon as possible. If the conversion inspection is due to safeguarding concerns, our expectation is that it will continue to be within 48 hours.
This proposed change provides a more manageable conversion experience for school leaders. It also ensures there is greater certainty for serving school leaders who are Ofsted Inspectors as they will know in advance what inspection activity to plan.
From September 2017, we propose to extend the window for converting a short inspection to a section 5 inspection from within 48 hours to within a maximum of 15 working days. We will aim to return to carry out the conversion inspection as soon as possible within the 15 working days. This proposal will retain the benefits of short inspections: the considerable majority of good schools will continue to experience a short inspection without a conversion.
Schools’ experience of conversion within 48 hours can sometimes be negative. The decision to convert is often taken mid-afternoon and an inspection team usually arrives on site early the next day to gather a wider range of evidence. School leaders who have undergone converted inspections tell us that it can be overwhelming both to understand the reasons for conversion and adjust to the arrival of the extended team. This is particularly the case for secondary schools where the incoming team is often large. A number of schools that have gone through a conversion have told us that they would rather have had a section 5 inspection from the outset.
The extension of the period of conversion to a maximum of 15 working days will make the conversion experience more manageable for school leaders. They will have time to discuss and understand the lead inspector’s decision to convert throughout the afternoon of the short inspection. They will no longer have to do this while accommodating, in a very short space of time, the arrival of a significantly expanded team to conduct the section 5 inspection.
We want to make inspection better for Ofsted inspectors (OIs), the majority of whom are serving school leaders. The current policy of conversion within 48 hours creates uncertainty for serving practitioner inspectors; the possibility of immediate conversion makes it hard for them to predict how long they will need to be out of their schools. They do not know whether the short inspection they are leading or teaming on will convert and therefore they do not know whether they will be on inspection beyond the first day.
The proposed window of up to 15 working days for conversion means that serving practitioner inspectors will know in advance what inspection activity to plan for in a particular week, unless there is an exceptional reason to convert instantly, usually on safeguarding grounds.
Changes to short inspection consultation

34. Proposal 2: section 5 inspections for some good maintained schools and academies
Some good schools will receive a section 5 inspection from the outset instead of a short inspection if published information, Ofsted’s regional intelligence and Ofsted’s risk assessment process indicate that there will be a need to collect more evidence than is routinely gathered on a short inspection to reach a judgement about the school. All other good schools will continue to receive a short inspection.
This proposed change is not about predetermining the outcome of inspections. Rather, through this change, we will be able to recognise the circumstances of individual schools in our inspection approach and give those schools a better experience of inspection.
We will select these good schools for section 5 inspection through our standard risk assessment process.
Stage one of this process is to analyse a school’s published historical data and additional risk information. This information includes whether a school is below the floor standard, has high or persistent absence and/or has high levels of repeat exclusions. As part of our assessment, we will also take account of concerns triggered where a significant number of parents have expressed negative views about the school.
In stage two of the process, Ofsted’s regions apply their local knowledge and intelligence to this information. They conduct a desk-based review that includes consideration of the outcomes of any inspections, qualifying complaints by parents, statutory warning notices and any other significant concerns that are brought to Ofsted’s attention. If this risk assessment leads the Ofsted regional director to conclude that a short inspection would be highly likely to convert to a section 5 inspection, we propose that Ofsted carries out a section 5 inspection without the prior short inspection.
The decision to carry out a section 5 inspection rather than a short inspection does not mean that the outcome of the inspection will be pre-determined. The purpose of a section 5 inspection is to gather enough evidence to substantiate the full set of inspection judgements. Any inspection outcome and grade profile is possible. This is borne out by our experience since September Over a quarter of section 5 inspections following conversion have resulted in the school remaining good, while a further quarter have improved to outstanding.
Our view is that, because conversions are sometimes difficult to manage for schools and we can often predict where they will be necessary in order to gather more evidence, it is sensible to limit the number of unnecessary conversions.
Changes to short inspection consultation

35. We are not proposing any…
Changes to the purpose of a short inspection or to the short inspection methodology.
Changes to a school’s experience of a short inspection when inspectors are on site.
Changes to how we conduct short inspections that do not convert to a section 5 inspection.
All other aspects of short inspection practice will remain the same.
[if asked about “three day inspections”: To reduce the burden on very large schools, Ofsted will continue the current practice of having a small team of inspectors carry out the converted full inspection over two days, rather than a large team on one day.]
This proposed changes are not about predetermining the outcome of inspections. Rather, through this change, we will be able to recognise the circumstances of individual schools in our inspection approach and give those schools a better experience of inspection.
Changes to short inspection consultation

36. Next steps
The consultation opened on the 16 June 2017 and closes on 18 August 2017
Additional consultation activity is taking place throughout July 2017
We will publish the main findings and our response in September 2017.
We expect to implement the finalised changes after October 2017 half term.
We hope you will respond to our consultation!
Changes to short inspection consultation

37. Ofsted on the web and on social media
EMTSA June 2017