Amanda Spielman, Chief Inspector of Ofsted, has issued a warning to teachers to stop involving students in “divisive” political campaigns. She took issue with students missing school to participate in School Strikes for Palestine last week. During a media briefing following the release of Ofsted’s annual report, Spielman pointed out that teachers are “enlisting” children “to write campaigning letters” and “walk down the high street to support people who are demonstrating”. She cautioned against running “contentious” campaigns within schools because they lead to “unhappy” and “uncomfortable” students. There’s no end to education…
Over the last day, the Labour Party has been desperately attempting to claw back positive media coverage – from the current chaos narrative of infighting and splits – with a number of radical policy announcements. One of those is the plan to scrap Ofsted, which the party has said is a “flawed inspection system” that is biased against poorer schools. A policy they clearly hadn’t fully thought through…
Labour plan on replacing the inspection watchdog with “regular “health checks” run by local authorities”. Whilst the policy has been criticised by many, one point has been overlooked: Ofsted is also responsible for child protection, regulating social care for vulnerable children outside of schools. Not a good look good from the party that ran Rotherham council during the child abuse scandal…
There is already currently a consultation by the Government to request more inspections to keep children safe. Labour’s new policy would water down the inspection system that the Government already views as potentially inadequate. Labour’s proposed replacement would see rotten borough councils adjudicating each other, ditching independent oversight in many cases. The same councils that were intent on sweeping the grooming scandal under the rug would now be free from regular independent scrutiny…
