Ofsted reprieve for heads who step into failing schools
BBC News education | Hannah Richardson | 17 March 2016
Heads who take over struggling schools are to be given a two and half years reprieve from Ofsted inspections, to enable them to turn things around.
The plans come in a white paper on schools, which signals a shake-up of teacher training and school governance.
Heads who take over failing schools have long complained that they risk their careers by doing so.
It is hoped the reprieve will encourage more of them to work in challenging areas.
Here’s what you need to know…
Education secretary Nicky Morgan’s schools White Paper was published this morning. It reveals the government’s intentions:
Ofsted
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To ask Ofsted to consult on removing the separate graded judgements on the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. Inspectors will still report on the impact of teaching, learning and assessment through the other graded judgements, but will no longer separately grade the quality of teaching.
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To introduce an “improvement period” during which schools won’t be inspected by Ofsted, to allow the time and stability to put in train sustainable improvement.
The Education Secretary Nicky Morgan also announced an end to the legal obligation for academies to have parents as governors in all schools.
Instead there will be a greater obligation to consult with parents, and those sitting on a governing board would have to pass a skills test.
The white paper sets out new powers for the Department for Education to force all schools in England to become academies, if they do not have a plan to convert by 2022.
At glance breakdown | White Paper
