A senior academic has criticised Ofsted’s methods. Professor Robert Coe, has commented that there is no evidence that lesson observations lead to valid Ofsted judgements.
With variables such as; subject matter, time of day and students’ behaviour, Professor Coe has questioned the consistency of observation ratings, suggesting that busy students and an ordered classroom do not necessarily mean that students are learning effectively. Ofsted Chief, Sir Michael Wilshaw has dismissed the claims.
Many schools and their staff look forward to an Ofsted inspection like a visit to the dentist and face disappointment when they receive a lower than expected rating. Commentary on deficiencies of the Ofsted observations, such as this, may add further to their grievance as to the effectiveness of the current system.