Community calls for further Ofsted reforms

Commenting on Ofsted’s response to HM Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report, Helen Osgood, National Officer for Education and Early Years at Community Union, said:

“We welcome Ofsted’s response and commitment to reform, but this should just be the beginning. More needs to be done, including an end to the blunt instrument of one-word judgements.

“The current focus is on schools, but the reform process must include not only schools and further education, but also early years settings and staff too, which are all-too-often overlooked.

“Community considers it to be a tragedy that the process of much-needed reforms of Ofsted has only come about because of a coroner’s report, following the loss of life of a much-loved and respected head teacher.

“Community agrees with the coroner’s findings that there needs to be a clear pathway for staff to raise concerns about how an inspection is being carried out.

“It is essential that staff are treated with humanity, and that their mental health is taken seriously. They must be fully supported through the Ofsted process.

“The health and safety of educators, and an understanding of the pressures they face, should be at the forefront of Ofsted inspectors’ minds during an inspection.”