Ofsted
Introduction
Hello! Thank you for that welcome.
Thank you for the invitation, and for the very many constructive meetings Ive had with ASCL colleagues in my first couple of months. Im actually on my 49th day in post today. I hope those meetings will continue.
I met with Geoff, thanks Geoff, on my fourth day in post, and Im looking forward to working with Pepe when you take on the mantle next month. Congratulations to Pepe.
Im delighted to be here, speaking to you, the leaders of this countrys great schools and colleges.
I feel very comfortable here with you, because we share so many of the same experiences.
Ive been a teacher; a head; a multi-academy trust leader; and a member of ASCL, in fact even SHA at some point, for nearly 2 decades before I took on this new role.
And now I stand in front of you for the first time as His Majestys Chief Inspector at Ofsted.
I lead an organisation that is, at every level, a reflection of the sectors we inspect and regulate. The teams I now lead are drawn from schools, from further education, from early years, from social care. I have colleagues inspecting the training of military recruits who have served time in the armed forces themselves. I have others inspecting prison education who have worked (I said worked!) in prisons.
That experience and insight is so, so important. So important. Its what gives us credibility. Credibility with you. Credibility when we talk to those in power.
And its what gives us the right to inform parents about the services their children are getting.
Because thats the other side of the coin: we are of the system, but we exist as you all exist for children, for learners and, of course, for parents and carers.
Challenges
Ours is or it really should be a joint enterprise. We talk about raising standards and improving lives but in truth, our role is to help you to do that.
Ofsted does not educate children. You do.
Youre the ones out there every day, educating, inspiring, and shaping the lives of children and learners. I promise that Ill never forget that.
I worked in schools for 29 years or so. Many of them were schools in very difficult situations which needed a tremendous amount of help.
These schools were often described as being in challenging circumstances.
But rather like John [Camp OBE, ASCL President] was saying, that phrase begs the question of what circumstances other schools are facing.
I dont think anyone working in our sector would say their circumstances arent challenging.
After all, were struggling to various degrees:
- with the legacies of COVID
- with, as John talked about, cost-of living difficulties
- with the intertwined problems of attendance and behaviour
- with increasing demand for mental health and special educational needs and disabilities services
- And with that stubborn and stark gap in the performance of disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged children
And of course, looking at other areas we inspect and regulate, we see rising demand for childcare, for alternative provision, for support services and for safe and nurturing childrens homes.
Its hard then to see what you call that other than challenging.
But, whilst there are real challenges, there are also reasons to be optimistic. Ours is a great and noble profession full of people, like you, who care deeply about children. Passionate, passionate professionals who want the best and can see the impact on individuals when we, as a system, cannot deliver this, for whatever reason. This makes it difficult. I understand that. But I also understand that the best of you take on your leadership roles not because it is easy, but because it is hard. You want to make a difference, especially to those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable, and so do I.
Why I joined Ofsted
So, I want to reassure you that I get it. And that Ofsted gets it.
Its that challenge that brought me to this job. I did not apply to maintain business as usual. I want to meet these challenging times head-on. And I want to improve and change the way Ofsted goes about its work.
My ambition is for Ofsted to be a modern, world-class inspectorate and regulator fit for purpose and also trusted by parents, by children and by you, the sectors we work with. I will need your help however, to do this.
I want us to be the best, because children deserve the best.
And because we share the highest expectations for all children especially the most disadvantaged and vulnerable. They deserve that from us.
I want us all to challenge the so-called soft bigotry of low expectations wherever we find them. Low expectations are pernicious, they are malignant, and they are just plain wrong.
We want to see high standards for all children, and positive outcomes for all children. This is how we start to tackle disadvantage as a society, by opening new doors, creating new opportunities and better life chances.
Thats why, we will of course continue to call out providers when they arent meeting the needs of children and parents. After all, children only get one childhood. None of us want to see their potential limited because of where they were born or their future mapped out based on their background.
But that does not mean that we can ignore context. I know we can do more to recognise the challenging circumstances you face. To look at the bigger picture and the context in which youre working.
We can be better at focusing on the things you are and should be doing. The areas where you can add value and make a difference.
But no single school can do it all. I know you want to do everything you can for the children and communities you serve, but you cannot do it alone. And we dont expect you to.
And I know only too well that being a teacher is a difficult enough job on its own. And so is being a social worker, or an educational psychologist, or a teaching assistant, or any of the other roles in our sector. We shouldnt expect teachers to try to combine these roles it just isnt fair to them, and it isnt fair to children.
So, I want Ofsted to be better at understanding the decisions you make, in the context you are working in. Understanding why you made those decisions and the difference they made for your children and learners.
And when we find problems that you cant control, I want us to do more to follow the thread and hold the right people to account.
Ofsteds position
Because Ofsted has a unique position overseeing almost all of the services that affect a childs life, especially a most vulnerable or disadvantaged child:
- their childminder or nursery
- if they need help from social services
- their primary and their secondary school
- if they go on to a college or an apprenticeship
- if they access SEND support
- if theyre referred to alternative or specialist provision
- even if they need help from mental health services
And of course, we inspect their local authority, and we report to the government and parliament along the way.
So, rather like the title of the conference: interconnected we have, Ofsted has, the ability to pull the threads across services and follow where they lead, and I want us to do it more. Because we know that good education and care isnt the work of one institution its down to all the influences on a young life.
And so, seeing that bigger picture is vital. And that is one of my biggest priorities for Ofsted over the next 5 years.
It means we can see how a child moves between these services, or if they fall through the gaps.
It means we can better understand the difficult decisions you make, where your options are restricted.
It means we can draw policy makers attention to significant gaps, postcode lotteries, where services are not joined up, and where things are just not good enough.
Ofsted holds a unique position, and we use it to provide these insights and help to link the whole system together.
Disadvantaged and most vulnerable children
Because I want Ofsted to be a champion for children. Helping you to attain high standards, and improvement through the dissemination of best practice.
And I want us to do that for all children. Especially the most disadvantaged and vulnerable. Thats my other big priority.
We want the right opportunities and the best chances for every child from South Shields to Southampton, from Canterbury to Carlisle, from Lands End to Lowestoft.
And we dont want disadvantage or vulnerability to be a barrier. Because if you get it right for the most disadvantaged, you get it right for everyone.
Ofsted has a crucial role to play in making sure that happens, and pointing out when it does not.
My first 2 months
So I have set out a path for Ofsted. And I have set out 2 big priorities for my tenure. To fully utilise our position, and make the most of our insights. And to make sure our focus is always on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable.
These are big ambitions, and not things t