Ofsted Dispelling Myths Emma Ing HMI Regional Director

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

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

How does Ofsted inspect schools?

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 (S 8 no formal designation). EMTSA June 2017 Slide 4

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 EMTSA June 2017 Slide 7

PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION Previous Complaints § How long ago? § How many? § What sort? We do not investigate specific complaints on inspection EMTSA June 2017 Slide 8

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 Slide 9

PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION The school’s previous inspection report § Note when, and leadership § Strengths § Areas for improvement EMTSA June 2017 Slide 10

PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION School’s website § Academies https: //www. gov. uk/guidance/what-academies-free-schools-and-colleges-should-publish-online § Maintained schools https: //www. gov. uk/guidance/what-maintained-schools-must-publish-online EMTSA June 2017 Slide 11

PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION Outcomes for pupils § Inspection Dashboard ANY STRENGTHS ANY WEAKNESSES EMTSA June 2017 Slide 12

PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION Outcomes for pupils § The importance of progress § Different groups § Disadvantaged pupils § Most-able, least-able and middle ability EMTSA June 2017 Slide 13

PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION Outcomes for pupils § Attendance § Exclusions EMTSA June 2017 Slide 14

PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION KEY LINES OF ENQUIRY Previous inspection report Data on outcomes KEY LINES OF ENQUIRY School’s self evaluation? EMTSA June 2017 Website Absence and Exclusions School’s Improvement plan? Slide 15

WHAT IS OFSTED NOT DOING? § Ofsted inspections-clarification for schools § https: //www. gov. uk/government/organisations/ofsted EMTSA June 2017 Slide 16

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 Slide 17

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? EMTSA June 2017 Slide 18

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 Slide 19

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 Slide 20

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 EMTSA June 2017 Slide 21

THE INSPECTION - ACTIVITIES Meetings § The headteacher, senior, middle leaders and teachers § Governors/Trustees representatives from LA or MAT § Pupils and parents EMTSA June 2017 Slide 22

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 EMTSA June 2017 Slide 23

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 any safeguarding concerns or evidence suggests the school is less than good EMTSA June 2017 Slide 24

What is Ofsted looking for…. ?

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 Slide 26

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 EMTSA June 2017 Slide 27

Common features of outstanding schools

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 Slide 29

Changes to short inspections Changes to short inspection consultation

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. Changes to short inspection consultation Slide 1

Proposed changes We will continue short inspections and conversions, however we propose two changes: 1. 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 2. 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. Changes to short inspection consultation Slide 2

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. Changes to short inspection consultation Slide 3

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. Changes to short inspection consultation Slide 4

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. Changes to short inspection consultation Slide 5

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. https: //www. gov. uk/government/consultations/short-inspections-of-good-schools Changes to short inspection consultation Slide 6

Ofsted on the web and on social media www. gov. uk/ofsted http: //reports. ofsted. gov. uk www. linkedin. com/company/ofsted www. youtube. com/ofstednews www. slideshare. net/ofstednews www. twitter. com/emmainghmi EMTSA June 2017 Slide 37