Second UK Teachers' Union Calls for Halt to Ofsted Inspections

A second major head teachers' union in England has called for a pause in graded Ofsted inspections, citing increasing concerns over the welfare and morale of its members. The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) also raised the possibility of industrial action, describing the new grading system as an "overbearing mess."

On Friday, Ofsted's chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, stated that an independent survey indicated the inspectorate was "on the right track" with its inspections. The Department for Education (DfE) commented that ministers are collaborating with Ofsted and school leaders to ensure accountability is "fair, proportionate and focused on helping every school get better."

ASCL's announcement follows a similar sentiment from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which previously stated that changes to inspections implemented nearly a year ago had been severely detrimental to school leaders' well-being.

ASCL has passed a motion of no confidence in Ofsted's leadership, asserting that the necessary actions have not matched "warm words about recognizing wellbeing pressures." General secretary Pepe Di'Iasio stated that negotiation efforts had reached a "brick wall" and that the current system is "not fit for purpose" and requires urgent review.

The union is urging the government to suspend inspections and reassess the system. ASCL also plans to survey its members regarding potential industrial action if no changes are made.

Ofsted responded by acknowledging that while efforts have been made to reduce inspection pressure, workload and well-being remain challenges. A spokesperson indicated a continued commitment to listening to feedback for improvement.

England's school inspectorate introduced the report card system last November, replacing single-word judgments. This change followed the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide after her school was downgraded from "outstanding" to "inadequate." An inquest ruled that an Ofsted inspection had contributed to her death.

The revised system aims to grade schools across multiple areas rather than relying on a single overall grade. An independent interim report commissioned by Ofsted found that leaders were generally positive about their inspection experiences, viewing them as more collaborative and context-aware than previous inspections. However, the report also indicated that nearly half of surveyed school leaders felt their staff's mental well-being had been negatively impacted by recent inspections.

Sir Martyn Oliver acknowledged the ongoing challenges of workload and well-being in education, stating that Ofsted will continue to listen to feedback from professionals and parents to refine its processes.