Teachers in the South West calling for education inspection reform
NEU members are said to have lost faith in education watchdog Ofsted.
The National Education Union (NEU) are calling for a root and branch reform of the school inspection system.
At their annual conference in Bournemouth, the NEU revealed a survey they'd carried out found four in five of teachers in England believe a new system needs to be created, saying current education watchdog, Ofsted, has 'many problems'.
It comes as Ofsted has come under greater scrutiny after the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Mrs Perry took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns.
A loss of faith in the system
With 90% of teachers surveyed by the NEU believing one-word grades were an unfair reflection of school performance.
Regional Secretary for the NEU in the SouthWest, Hannah Packham, told Greatest Hits Radio that Ofsted had lost the faith of education professionals.
The survey also found 3% of teachers believe Ofsted to be reliable, and just 4% think they're acting independently of the government.
Ms Packham told us the current inspection system's having a massive impact on teacher's wellbeing.
"62% of our members says it caused mental health impacts and impacts on on their home life.
"If you if you look at that and the implications of that on the children that they teach as well it is indescribable.
"Not only does Ofsted artificially force a narrowing of the curriculum, it's also having an impact on the very people that are meant to be caring for our peoples."
Root and branch change needed
Ms Packham told us that they want a new national level where a new inspection system supports education.
"What we want is a collaborative model of inspection where schools can work together, with an external partner, and with colleagues from from across the profession, to develop a genuinely collaborative model that supports children, supports their learning and supports the profession," she said.
She added that the single word gradings used by Ofsted are simply not sufficient, with Daniel Kebede, joint general secretary of the NEU, saying they are 'destructive and wrong'.
He added: "Ofsted is out of touch and out of favour. As this survey shows, the inspectorate's reputation has worsened since we last sought members' views in 2022.
"No amount of rebranding will eradicate the entrenched view that Ofsted's days are numbered. If it ever commanded respect, those days are now long gone."
Mr Kebede went on to say Ofsted's been forced into a 'listening exercise' following Mrs Perry's tragic death but that the NEU doubt it will lead to change.
"Only root and branch reform can bring an end to the tyranny of inspection," said Mr Kebede.
Government response
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Our plan to ensure every child benefits from a world-class education is working with 90% of schools now judged to be good or outstanding, up from 68% in 2010.
"Ofsted is central to driving forward that improvement. Their independent inspections are vital to ensuring children are safe in school, parents are informed, and the department is able to intervene where strictly necessary.
"We have worked closely with Ofsted to ensure inspections are conducted with professionalism and compassion. We are supporting Sir Martyn Oliver's work through the Big Listen, to hear from parents, teachers and education experts to understand where more improvements can be made."