A different Perspective on School Inspection

As part of my role at Angel Solutions, I frequently chat with Headteachers and sometimes with Ofsted Inspectors. They’re always interesting conversations but some are more resonant than others.

I wanted to share part of an interesting conversation that I had the other day with one of our lead contributing Inspectors. We were talking about the fear surrounding Ofsted inspections and the way that the “Inspector demographic” has changed in the last few years. As with all of this stuff – I need to point out that this is based on opinion, etc. That said, I trust the opinion in question – they’re a highly successful and respected Headteacher and Inspector.

What is an Ofsted inspection?

We all know what it’s like to get the call and then wait for the impending arrival of the inspector. The internet is full of “ensuring outstanding” or “ways to make your inspection better” and doubtless many of these have merit but they also build some kind of exotic and fearful mystique around a process that happens almost every day in schools across England. The inspectors know everything, and they’re going to crawl through your school like a latter-day Matthew Hopkins!

Seriously though, when we strip aside the “he said/she said” and get down to the nub of it – it’s actually quite straightforward ...and here is a wonderful analogy that describes it perfectly.

Imagine, you were running river-trips on the Zambezi River – taking customers on journeys along what is a beautiful and exciting (but sometimes hazardous) river. A fellow captain is coming along tomorrow to join you on a small part of the journey down the crocodile-infested river. The captain’s main interest is learning how you spot the crocodiles in the water and identify how close each crocodile is to your boat. They also want to know what your plans are to deal with the nearest (and most dangerous) crocodiles. Because they can only spend one journey with you, they want to see a map of your route highlighting the main dangers and main features of the route – nothing too long or complicated.

The day comes and the captain gets on-board with you. Throughout the journey, they want to know about the crocodiles that you’ve spotted and ask you about a few of them. They’re interested in how you are planning to deal with them. They’re also interested in why you chose the course that you steered and some of the highlights and features you see along the route.

The trip comes to an end and as they step ashore at the end, they thank you for your time and tell you that as a fellow captain, they would happily recommend you to other passengers.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increasing number of serving Headteachers becoming Ofsted Inspectors – they’re “living” the same day-to-day experiences as the people that they are visiting to inspect. They understand the current every-changing environment and the problems that Headteachers face – they’re their problems too.

Their principal role in an inspection is to calibrate the thinking of the Headteacher and SLT that they are visiting – what problems have the SLT recognised? Which are the most imminent and what are the SLT planning to do about them? Do the plans make sense and have the SLT missed any problems? 

If the SLT have identified all of the relevant threats and made sensible, effective plans to mitigate them …and make the best possible progress for their passengers downriver, then what more could the inspector ask?

So, where does this link to Perspective?

Going back to our Zambezi trip …

Perspective is a tool designed by captains and former captains – it’s designed to help to make your journey downriver as successful and safe as possible.

Perspective lets you identify your crocodiles and mark them on your map. You can summarise your threats, your plans and your current situation in your SEF. Your rationalisation for these decisions is conveniently held in your evidence base.

Your more detailed strategies to deal with threats along the river are held in your plan. These strategies outline what you and your crew are going to do, along with when, and how.  To make the journey more relevant to the crew, you can give them responsibility for part of it through Performance Management.

To ensure the boat is sailing well and to plan, you can check in with the crew and store your thoughts and observations on this – that way, you can identify the ways that your crew are making the journey go well and share these tips with others. You’re also able to see how well your team are performing as a whole at any point. This can be combined with the crew’s own thoughts on how well they are doing in order to get a detailed picture of how well the ship is sailing.

In Summary

Accountability is never going to be a 100% pleasant experience, it’s stressful and can play on your fears and worries.

However, if we strip all of the mystery back, it’s a simple premise – are you giving your “passengers” the SAFEST, most effective journey? Do you know what your threats are and what are you doing about them?

If you don’t know or you’re struggling to prove it, then help is at hand - we’ve got the tool to help with precisely that – it’s called Perspective and it’s available to you 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year (366 this year).

I’d welcome any thoughts or observations on this, especially if they relate to your own experiences. Likewise, if you'd like any more information on smoothing your journey downriver, feel free to contact either myself or my fellow Navigator Nat and we’ll be more than happy to hear from you,

Bon Voyage!

John

PS:- I’d love to know how many times “Matthew Hopkins” was googled after this went live.