Category Archives: Ofsted

Wagging the Dog

Posted on January 8, 2020 by suecowley

In 1992, the same year that I started my teaching degree, a new organisation was established to inspect standards in education. The national inspectorate known as Ofsted replaced the previous system of inspections, which were carried out by HMIs within … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Bold Beginnings, Children, EYFS, Ofsted | 2 Comments

The Medium and the Message

Posted on January 11, 2019 by suecowley

Just before Christmas, Ofsted published a series of short videos on YouTube about their proposed new Education Inspection Framework, with specific reference to the focus they are going to be putting on Curriculum in future inspections. The Framework is going … Continue reading →

Posted in Bold Beginnings, EYFS, Ofsted | 1 Comment

Joining the Dots

Posted on December 8, 2018 by suecowley

At the same time as testing increases and we put ever more pressure on children to achieve high academic results we see rising rates of poor mental health in young people. At the same time as schools are being put … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Behaviour, Government, Ofsted | 1 Comment

Mirror Mirror

Posted on March 10, 2018 by suecowley

According to Damian Hinds (and various friends of the DfE) there are a handful of reasons for the slight recruitment and retention hiccup currently troubling a couple of England’s schools, and Damian has a list of handy ways to solve … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Ofsted | 2 Comments

The Blame Game

Posted on October 11, 2017 by suecowley

When Michael Wilshaw was HMCI, he had a very bad habit of announcing his opinions in The Sunday Times. One particularly striking moment was when he called for a “Renaissance of Respect” in the nation’s schools, which first of all … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Ofsted, Testing | 1 Comment

Five Tips for Surviving Ofsted

Posted on December 12, 2015 by suecowley

1. Don’t do it for Ofsted, do it for the kids. All other ways madness lies. 2. Self evaluation is not your enemy, it is your friend. Just make sure you use it properly. 3. You can’t manage people into submission, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ofsted | 2 Comments

Wherefore Art Thou Wilshaw?

Posted on July 14, 2015 by suecowley

“Let me be clear: what the poorest children need is to be taught, and well taught, from the age of two.” Michael Wilshaw I’m not really sure where to start with Michael Wilshaw’s speech, made as he announced the publication … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Early Years, Ofsted, Teaching and learning | 3 Comments

Renaissance of Respect

Posted on July 12, 2015 by suecowley

When I was at school back in the 1970’s, we had to stand up if a teacher entered the room. Not just if the head teacher entered, but any teacher at all. We also had to do endless copying from … Continue reading →

Posted in Ofsted | 8 Comments

Nothing But Flowers

Posted on March 13, 2015 by suecowley

You come to a ravine. Everyone tells you that they know the best way to get across the ravine. And they tell you like a million different things. You desperately want to get across the ravine, because on the other … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Ofsted | 1 Comment

Input:Output

Posted on March 27, 2014 by suecowley

There was much rejoicing in the primary/secondary sector when Sir Michael Wilshaw sent a letter to school inspectors, insisting that they should not look for a particular teaching style when observing lessons, but focus solely on the outcomes for students. … Continue reading →

Posted in Data, Government, Ofsted, Play, Teaching and learning | 7 Comments