The new system, which grades schools over six areas of assessment using a five-point evaluation scale, was brought in last year to replace the old single-word grading process following a coroner’s ruling that its inspection had contributed to head teacher Ruth Perry’s suicide in 2023.
NAHT, which is England’s largest school leader’s union, raised its concerns after a survey it ran with school leaders found over 70% felt the inspection process had, in fact, worsened over the year of the new system’s introduction. Following the concerning conclusions, and NAHT’s subsequent demand that Ofsted halts its application of the new system, the States has clarified that the inspection process in question is not in use locally.
‘It is important to note that Guernsey and Alderney have their own agreement with Ofsted, shaped specifically around the needs of our islands, and it is one we are confident in. The new inspection framework that the National Association of Head Teachers is protesting against in the UK is not the one used here, so those particular concerns do not apply,’ explained Sophie Roughsedge, head of education operations.
She stressed the importance of having a rigorous and reliable inspection system in place, while simultaneously staying aware of teachers’ wellbeing and recognising the significant pressure that can be felt when schools are placed under inspection.
‘A robust and thorough inspection system is important. It gives parents, pupils and the wider community confidence that our schools are well run and providing a good education,’ she said.
‘We are also very conscious of the demands that inspection places on schools, and particularly on teachers and head teachers. Supporting our staff and school leaders well through that process is a priority, and we want our approach to remain rigorous while staying proportionate and genuinely supportive of improvement.’
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