OFSTED'S NEW INSPECTION FRAMEWORK FOR SCHOOLS

That this House recognises that an effective system of school inspection should be genuinely supportive of school improvement and as such requires the confidence of teachers and headteachers; notes that there are deep concerns in a number of schools about the new inspection framework and evaluation schedule and the interpretation of these by inspectors, particularly in relation to the limiting judgments for safeguarding and achievement; is seriously concerned about reports of inspectors making arbitrary judgments based on trivial issues which lead to schools unfairly being marked down or in some cases deemed to have failed; is also concerned that parents and the general public will be given an erroneous and misleading impression of school standards; and urges Her Majesty's Chief Inspector to revise the guidance to schools and inspectors to remedy these concerns.