TO BE PUBLISHED September 2024
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This conference will consider the future for school inspections in England.
It will be an opportunity to discuss strategies, looking at the ways in which Ofsted works with education professionals, and options for improving the information provided to parents and guardians.
The conference will also be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to look at the first months of HM Chief Inspector of Schools since his term of office started at the beginning of the year, and the new Government’s policy priorities for school inspection, including reforms to the Ofsted judgement system through the introduction of a report card system to replace single grade headline judgements for schools and the introduction of inspections for multi-academy trusts.
Delegates will consider key issues and developments following The Education Committee’s inquiry in the last Parliament into Ofsted’s work with schools. Delegates will consider the Committee’s key recommendations and measures undertaken by Ofsted in response, including:
- reforms to the Ofsted complaints process, with the inspectorate encouraged to conduct an in-depth review
- improvements to mental health training for lead inspectors
- allowing requests to pause inspections
- implementing a rapid-return policy for schools rated inadequate on safeguarding shortcomings alone
- stakeholder responses to the regulator’s work in this year’s Ofsted Big Listen
Those attending will assess the inspectorate's work in the areas of reporting, inspection practice and organisational culture, including the potential for integrating views of stakeholders from the Big Listen into inspection reform.
They will discuss priorities for the Ofsted judgement system and accountability moving forward, as well as proposals for a report card system, the impact of single word judgements, and the future of school improvement plans.
The potential future inspections of multi-academy trusts will also be discussed, looking at how they could work if implemented, how often they should take place and how trusts should be graded. Discussion will also consider the inspection process for further education colleges moving forward.
Strategies to reduce the impact of inspections on staff workload and wellbeing will also be considered, including staff mental health. The agenda will bring out latest thinking and best practice in preparing the teaching workforce for inspections, as well as the implementation and impact of Ofsted’s new complaints policies and procedures introduced last April following consultation.
Further sessions will consider the Chief Inspector’s recent announcement that subject ‘deep dives’ during ungraded inspections will end from September, with inspections focusing on the impact of the school curriculum, the personal development of staff and the behaviour of pupils.
We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Lord Knight of Weymouth, Chair, Beyond Ofsted Inquiry; and former Minister of State for Schools and Learning (2006-2009); Sir Michael Wilshaw, former Chief Inspector, Education, Children’s Services and Skills, Ofsted (2012-2016); and Associate Director, Academicis; Katie Michelon, Partner, Browne Jacobson; and Steve Rollett, Deputy Chief Executive, Confederation of School Trusts.
The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues in the presence of key policy officials who are due to attend from the House of Commons Library; Home Office; and Department for the Economy, NI.
The proceedings of the conference will be circulated more widely, to Parliamentarians, ministerial offices, and government and regulatory officials with an interest in the issues being discussed. All delegates will also receive a video recording of the conference.
