皇冠体育app

Ofsted鈥檚 new Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, has announced the start date after a series of constructive meetings in his first week in the job 鈥� with headteacher unions and representatives, as well as with Professor Julia Waters, the sister of Ruth Perry.

Sir Martyn has also announced that Ofsted will respond in full to the coroner鈥檚 recommendations on 19 January, setting out clearly how Ofsted will conduct inspections with professionalism, courtesy, respect and empathy.

Earlier today, Sir Martyn and Dame Christine Ryan (Chair of Ofsted) met with Geoff Barton (General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders) and Paul Whiteman (General Secretary of National Association of Head Teachers) to discuss his intention to work constructively with the leadership unions during his tenure as His Majesty鈥檚 Chief Inspector (HMCI).

This afternoon, Sir Martyn and Dame Christine met with Geoff Barton, Paul Whiteman and Leora Cruddas (CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts). This constructive meeting was significantly extended, taking the whole day. In conclusion, Sir Martyn invited Geoff, Paul and Leora to work with Ofsted over the coming weeks, providing constructive challenge as Ofsted responds to the coroner鈥檚 recommendations. This engagement will continue following the publication of the response to the coroner.

Ofsted鈥檚 response to the coroner will detail work done prior to the inquest, work done immediately following the coroner鈥檚 findings and where Ofsted will focus in the longer-term. In particular, the group will reconvene for intensive work on ensuring headteachers feel confident, as inspections resume, to raise any serious concerns.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said:

皇冠体育appse are early days, but based on today鈥檚 face-to-face meetings, I am encouraged that the Chief Inspector has made time within his first few days in office to hold a meeting with me, Paul Whiteman (NAHT) and Leora Cruddas (CST). I am also pleased that the chair of Ofsted, Dame Christine Ryan, was also present.

皇冠体育app meeting gave us an opportunity to reflect on the concerns raised in the coroner鈥檚 report following the inquest into the death of Ruth Perry, discuss how relations between Ofsted and the profession can be reset, give reassurance to leaders that the resumption of inspection will not simply be 鈥榖usiness as usual鈥�, and start to consider the need for the longer-term reforms.

We look forward to continuing to work together constructively in pursuit of an inspection system that is fairer, less punitive and has the trust of school and college leaders.

Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said:

I am pleased that this meeting was more than a courtesy. I felt that for the first time in far too long Ofsted took seriously the concerns of NAHT members.

It鈥檚 early days but both HMCI, Sir Martyn Oliver, and Ofsted Chair, Dame Christine Ryan, demonstrated a deep understanding of our members鈥� concerns and a determination to work with us to identify solutions.

皇冠体育appse are early days and NAHT members will judge progress on actions and not words. To that end we have started today to agree immediate actions to bring confidence and space to discuss longer term reform.

Leora Cruddas, CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts, said:

We are pleased that Ofsted has engaged constructively with us, so early in Sir Martyn鈥檚 tenure.

皇冠体育app conversations today have been very positive and signal a change in practice, tone and culture.

皇冠体育app start of inspections in schools and FE providers this year had been delayed to allow for mental health awareness training to begin for over 3,000 full and part-time inspectors. 皇冠体育app training has 2 parts. All inspectors working in schools, further education, social care and early years are set to attend initial training on 8 January, led by Sir Martyn, but including an introductory session from social enterprise Mental Health First Aid England. This session will be recorded and shared publicly. Mental Health First Aid England will then lead detailed small group sessions with groups of inspectors to help them understand and recognise any mental health issues they may encounter on inspection.

Sir Martyn will ensure that every school and college inspection is led by an inspector that has completed both sessions. By 22 January, all lead inspectors working in schools and further education will have completed both sessions. Every inspector working for Ofsted will have completed the training by the end of March.

Sir Martyn has also committed to completing Ofsted鈥檚 detailed response to the prevention of future deaths report issued by HM Coroner following the inquest into Ruth Perry鈥檚 death, which found an Ofsted inspection contributed to her suicide. 皇冠体育app document will be completed and sent to the coroner on 19 January 鈥� before inspections begin.

Ofsted will seek the permission of the coroner to publish this document as soon as it is completed, ensuring the whole profession can be reassured of the fullness of Ofsted鈥檚 response and Sir Martyn鈥檚 personal commitment to learn from the tragedy of Ruth Perry鈥檚 death.

Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty鈥檚 Chief Inspector of education, children鈥檚 services and skills, said:

Inspection plays a vital role in making sure that children and learners are getting the education and care they need and deserve. So we need to get back to that work as quickly as we can. But I鈥檝e also been very clear that we must reflect on the findings of the coroner, learn from the tragic events of last year, and emerge as a better and more effective inspectorate. That means being trusted by parents and respected by the education and social care professionals we work with.

We paused school and FE inspections to allow for training to take place. This mental health awareness training is a first step 鈥� but for me a critical first step 鈥� in reassuring the sectors we work with that we鈥檙e serious about change. I鈥檓 grateful to the leaders of ASCL, NAHT and the Confederation of School Trusts for some really constructive discussions this week. We鈥檝e agreed that the 22 January is the right date to restart school and FE inspections. That will allow all inspectors to begin the training ahead of then, and gives us time to make sure that every single lead inspector on a school or FE inspection, will have completed it.

Further details

• All school inspections will begin from w/c 22 January.
• All inspections of further education and skills providers will begin w/c 22 January.
• Inspections of initial teacher education providers will begin w/c 22 January.

Inspections have continued where they are undertaken with partners 鈥� these include prison education inspections, area SEND inspections and joint targeted area inspections.

Social care and early years inspections and regulatory visits have also continued. In these sectors, Ofsted is the regulator as well as the inspectorate and work is driven by regulatory requirements. All social care and early years inspectors will complete the mental health awareness training as quickly as possible 鈥� and in full by the end of March.