A former Ofsted director has criticised the involvement of an academy trust trade body in the recruitment of the watchdog鈥檚 next chief inspector. An advisory panel to shift applications, run interviews and recommend a shortlist to the education secretary includes Leora Cruddas, the chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST). The confederation represents 64 per cent of the academy sector in England. But Luke Tryl, who ran corporate strategy at , said a 鈥渂ig part鈥� of the job was 鈥渂eing able to stand firm, particularly when the big trusts, which have a lot of political influence and a lot of influence over the sector, are pushing back on things鈥�. 鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 let the water company trade body sit on Ofwat interviews and afraid this leaves me feeling uncomfortable,鈥� he tweeted this week. An advertisement for the chief inspector job states that candidates must have 鈥渟ignificant experience鈥� at a senior level in schools or trusts. Sir David Carter, the former national schools commissioner, said having someone on the panel who 鈥渦nderstands the sector, working with others to advise, is not unhelpful”. “I would much rather we get people鈥ho are able to assess the merits of the school leadership experience that is relevant to such a crucial role.鈥� The panel also includes Dr Jo Saxton, Ofqual鈥檚 chief regulator, Dame Christine Ryan, Ofsted鈥檚 chair, and a senior Department for Education official. The CST declined to comment.
Peter Read 20 March 2023 Dr Jo Saxton is of course the previous highly controversial CEO of Turner Schools in Folkestone whose lead school, Folkestone Academy had possibly the highest-ever number of fixed-term exclusions in one year under her leadership, at 1211. This was despite her support for the claim that ‘behaviours that lead to exclusions happen when students perceive there to be no limits and no expectations and no rules’. Just one example of a disastrous track record in Trust performance, protected by her establishment background which means she is surely even more unsuitable to be assisting in the appointment of the next Ofsted chief inspector