UK: HEADTEACHERS WARN NEW INSPECTION SYSTEM IS HARMING HEALTH

School leaders’ union says new system is worse than one it replaced and has left members feeling overwhelmed.

Headteachers in England want Ofsted to stop grading their schools, saying its new inspection regime is harming their mental health and creating greater stress than the system it was designed to replace.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said it has given the education secretary, Lucy Powell, “countless examples” of the damaging effects on its members since the new inspection framework was introduced a year ago.

Amanda Hulme, the headteacher of Claypool primary school in Bolton, said a recent Ofsted inspection was the most stressful experience of her career.

“It was definitely damaging to my health and really quite distressing. I couldn’t sleep and it led to my blood pressure and pulse rate increasing,” Hulme said.

“The effect on my team has also been significant, with some colleagues no longer wanting to pursue headship, and another teacher considering leaving the profession entirely.

“I might have to seriously consider retiring early, before our next inspection is due – I’m just not sure I could face going through that again.”

The new framework replaced Ofsted’s headline inspection grades of “outstanding” through to “inadequate” with a more detailed system, fulfilling a manifesto pledge by the Labour government after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Paul Whiteman, the NAHT’s general secretary, said the new format was leaving school leaders and teachers “anxious, overwhelmed and demoralised” before and after inspections.

Whiteman said: “The clear theme emerging across all the feedback we have received is that this Ofsted framework is even more stressful than the one that preceded it.

Ofsted said it has heard from “many school leaders that inspection now feels much more collaborative and constructive, and that’s very encouraging”. It plans to publish independent research giving an impartial view of how the new system is working.

The NAHT said that while inspections should still go ahead, Ofsted should stop issuing grades until a review of inspections is held. The new framework grades schools on six or more evaluation areas, creating greater potential for lower grades.

Waters has been offered a meeting with Powell, who said: “I take incredibly seriously teacher [and] headteacher wellbeing.

“Of course we need an accountability structure and regime to continue school improvement, but I want to see one that is much more supportive and understanding of the great jobs that the majority of – in fact, almost all – headteachers are doing around the country.”

- Author: Richard Adams, The Guardian