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NUT warn against “moving the goal posts” for Ofsted school inspections

NUT warn against “moving the goal posts” for Ofsted school inspections

Commenting ahead of the debate on Motion 30, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers? union, said;

?Constantly moving the goal posts for the inspection of schools is unsettling. It does not reflect well on Ofsted as an organisation if it is deemed necessary to change the regime less than six weeks after introducing a new inspection framework.

?Sir Michael Wilshaw?s proposals appear to be more concerned with facilitating Government policies on academies and phonics than genuinely aiding school improvement. His aggressive rhetoric is disappointing from someone who as a headteacher was well-respected by many. It undermines his credibility with teachers who are not, at the moment, certain if he is simply acting as a parrot or a puppet for Ministers.

?Effective school inspection needs an approach which trusts and supports the profession and doesn?t denigrate it. The NUT believes Ofsted should look to and learn from the ?light touch? accountability systems of high performing countries such as Finland and New Zealand which are predicated on trusting schools and teachers to do the best by their students, rather than based on the idea that this can only be achieved through threats or penalties.?

                                        END pr46-2012
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