Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Deferred
Paragraph: 60
Ensure inspectors' expertise matches phases/subjects, target recruitment gaps, and mandate lead inspector expertise.
Conclusion
Ofsted must ensure that they are matching inspectors’ expertise with the appropriate phase and subject as much as possible, and ensure that their recruitment processes are targeting particular gaps in expertise. At a minimum, they must ensure that the lead inspector always has expertise in the relevant type of school and, in larger teams, that a majority of members of the team have the relevant expertise.
Government Response Summary
The government states its ambition to match inspector expertise to the appropriate phase and subject wherever possible, acknowledging benefits and challenges, but defers further exploration and action to the 'Big Listen' consultation.
Paragraph Reference:
60
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
It is our ambition to match expertise to inspection wherever possible, as suggested in Recommendation 10 (in the Committee's report). High-quality inspectors can inspect in a range of phases, but we recognise that the credibility of inspection is improved when team members have the authority of experience in the phase of the school being inspected. This is more difficult, for instance, for types of specialist provision for which there are fewer providers: employed inspectors with this type of specialist experience would need to inspect other phases and provision types in the gaps between inspections. We have a clear ambition to ensure that our workforce reflects the full range and types of provision in the sector, and we are keen to discuss this through the Big Listen. The majority of recommendations will be explored through our ‘Big Listen’ (Recommendations 1, 3, 5 to 8, 10, 13, 20 to 22 and 24 to 25). We look forward to hearing the sector’s, and the public’s, views on these important matters, and will take action immediately after the Big Listen concludes.