An Ofsted inspection should not be like entering the dragons’ den | Letters

Michael Bassey thinks Ofsted should be abolished, Sarah Hale questions its definition of relevant knowledge, Sara Davidson says the inspectorate requires improvement, while Linda Rhead points out that erroneous judgments have huge implications

What a disturbing account of disgraceful Ofsted inspections in your report (Outstanding primaries fail their Ofsted under new rules, 4 February). The Office for Standards in Education could have been valuable if it had treated teachers respectfully as fellow professionals to be inspected cordially, challenged where necessary, and guided and supported when appropriate. But instead, throughout its 28 years of existence, it has engendered fear in those inspected, and, where it found fault, conveyed its criticisms to public and parents in a way which could undermine confidence in the school and its head.

The government should abolish Ofsted and recognise that local authority inspectors/advisers, aware of the impact of local factors on school performance, are all that is required. The government should realise how professionally committed teachers are to the children they teach and how hard they work. Standards rise because young people choose to study hard, are taught well by their teachers, are encouraged by their parents, and influenced by a positive climate towards schoolwork by their peer group of classmates. Advisory inspection may help: punitive inspection doesn’t.
Emeritus Professor Michael Bassey
Coddington, Nottinghamshire

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