Merry Christmas and a happy new year. If you want to remain cheerful during this holiday break (!) do not read this until January!
This month, Schools Week reminds us that: 'Under the reformed inspection system, schools are judged using a five-grade system across a minimum of six inspection areas'. The trial schools undergoing inspection this term were subjected to deeper examination of all areas of schools statutory responsibilities. There appears to be longer class teaching observations, more paperwork and therefore, greater stress. Schools Week found that: 'Leaders have been warned the plans will make the system more complicated and burdensome for schools, not less’. This will certainly not help retention of staff as we already know that staff retention in schools is a problem …..
An excellent FaceBook video by ‘ICT with Mr P.’ explained that his followers informed him how their schools fared with these ‘new’ inspections (worth a watch) and it was not reported as a positive experience.
Time and time again, Ofsted is reminded (through consultation of the new framework with staff and organisations during the year) that the well-being of all staff has to be number one, when inspecting. This message appears to have fallen on stony ground.
A well-being impact report commissioned by a Teacher Support watchdog warned that the new report cards will create more anxiety for leaders with already “concerningly high” stress levels'. Their recent 'teacher well-being index 2025', paints a very gloomy picture of a teaching force in crisis. '... with staff-wellbeing at its lowest level since 2019’.
Meanwhile, can I point you to Oxford School of Thought’s latest publication of suggestions for a more appropriate inspection framework for primary schools. As it argues, ‘inspections should celebrate success, support professional dialogue, recognise the complexity of primary teaching, and focus on children’s holistic development across the full curriculum’.
By: Mike Aylen
On:21-12-2025
