Its judgments are often inaccurate and outdated and they put undue stress on heads and teachers. We need a more intelligent approach to inspections
Choosing your child’s school can feel like immensely high stakes. They will spend years living and breathing that choice, and it will almost inevitably be where their younger siblings go. So it was sighs of relief all round this month when my niece got into her first-choice primary, a lovely school where she attends nursery, and the only one that’s a walk away.
How to pick a school isn’t always obvious. Distance is a factor; parents often visit to get a feel; and there is a range of public information, from Ofsted inspection reports to pupil attainment data. Is it better to go for a school rated “good” by Ofsted that you can walk to, or is an “outstanding” school worth the daily drive or bus? What happens if the head leaves an outstanding school a year or two in, given the difficulties in recruiting a new one because of the risk it might be downgraded next time?
