The 157 Group has responded to today’s response by Ofsted to their consultation on implementing a common inspection framework for all types of educational institution.
Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group said, “The move by Ofsted towards a common inspection framework for all educational provision is a move towards greater equality in the system - that can only be a good thing. We have long argued that all parts of the education system should be judged against the same criteria. We also welcome Ofsted’s increased commitment to engaging current practitioners with their inspection teams.
“The critical thing now will be to ensure sector engagement with how these overarching changes will be implemented in practice. This detail will emerge from the inspection handbooks specific to different types of provision which will be piloted this year. The precise meaning of British values, the criteria to be applied to the quality of the curriculum and the ongoing approach to assessing ‘personal development, behaviour and welfare’ will all need teasing out in close collaboration with leaders and practitioners.”
Sarah Robinson OBE, chair of the 157 Group and principal of Stoke-on-Trent College, said, “We are keen to ensure that the seven additional judgements to be made for FE and skills providers can align with the principle of one inspection framework for all. We will be keen to engage with this as well as with the continuing question of the role of lesson observations in the FE sector, and the important question of ensuring that inspection can take a long-term view of the performance of Colleges. We urge Ofsted to be as willing to listen to the sector as they have been over these broader changes.”