Ofsted faces fresh calls to halt graded school inspections in England
A second major teachers' union in England has called for a halt to graded Ofsted inspections, citing concerns over member welfare and morale. The union has threatened potential strike action, labeling the current inspection system an 'overbearing mess'.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights significant tensions between educational regulatory bodies and the teaching profession regarding accountability and mental health.
Image source, Getty Images By Hazel Shearing , Education correspondent and Nathan Standley Published 13 minutes ago A second head teachers' union has called for a halt to graded Ofsted inspections in England, saying it is "increasingly concerned about the welfare and morale" of its members.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) also raised the prospect of potential strike action, saying a new grading system had become an "overbearing mess".
On Friday, Ofsted's chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said an independent survey of education providers showed it was "on the right track" with inspections.
The Department for Education (DfE) said ministers were "working with Ofsted and school leaders to ensure accountability is fair, proportionate and focused on helping every school get better".
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in