Ofsted plans surprise visits

0370 270 6000

Search Mobile

collapse

already registered?

Please sign in with your existing account details.

Email address

Password

need to register?

Register to access exclusive content, sign up to receive our updates and personalise your experience on brownejacobson.com.

Privacy statement - Terms and conditions

Forgotten your password?

collapseSign

Browne Jacobson home

Home

Insights

Blogs

Ofsted plans surprise visits

12 December 2013

For most, the word ‘surprise’ brings to mind positive connotations, particularly at this time of year with the Christmas period fast approaching. However, the latest announcement that there will be ‘surprise’ Ofsted visits to schools in parts of the country that are ‘rife with poor behaviour’ is unlikely to spread much cheer amongst the leadership teams of affected schools.

A range of guidance on tackling poor behaviour has been published by the DfE over the last few years to strengthen schools’ powers to discipline pupils. Furthermore, a recent survey found that 72% of school leaders are satisfied with these government measures.

Whilst Ofsted want to see schools act on poor behaviour, there must be recognition that this is inextricably linked to parental support and engagement (which can vary considerably from one area to the next). Focussing on schools’ efforts to get parents onside should be a key consideration for Ofsted inspectors when judging how well schools are addressing disruptive behaviour.

related opinions

Lateral flow daily contact testing paused

Following last week’s Guardian article about the concerns over lateral flow daily testing for those identified as having been a close contact of a person testing positive for Covid-19, Public Health England (PHE) and NHS Test and Trace (NHSTT) have published a position statement to recommend that daily contact testing in schools will be paused.

View blog