The education secretary has said she would have 鈥減unched鈥 disrespectful Ofsted inspectors that ran the rule over a school that she recently visited. Gillian Keegan made the statement during a question-and-answer event at the this morning. The senior Conservative recalled feeling 鈥渟hocked鈥 after hearing about the inspectors鈥 conduct as 鈥測ou don鈥檛 expect somebody to come in and not be respectful鈥. 鈥淚 heard recently actually from a fantastic school I went into, [and] they told me how their Ofsted experience had gone,鈥 she told the audience. 鈥淚 was shocked, I was actually shocked. I thought, 鈥楪od, if I鈥檇 met these people, I鈥檇 have probably punched them.鈥 They were really rude.鈥 Completely unacceptable’ Matt Newman, national officer at the FDA union, which represents inspectors, said her comments were 鈥渃ompletely unacceptable鈥. 鈥淥fsted inspectors are hard-working, decent people who are passionate about what they do. 鈥淔or a minister to suggest that it is acceptable to assault inspectors is irresponsible and dangerous. It will only serve to undermine the credibility of the inspection process.鈥 Keegan added that the 鈥渕ost important thing鈥 in schools is 鈥済etting good people, retaining good people, continuing the professional development of good people, [and] listening and respecting to good people鈥. 鈥淵ou expect people to be rude to you when you鈥檙e a politician,鈥 she continued. 鈥淏ut when you鈥檙e trying to run a school and change lives you don鈥檛 expect somebody to come in and not be respectful.鈥 Ofsted boss responds to Keegan comments Keegan noted that after meeting headteacher Ruth Perry鈥檚 loved ones and reflecting on what happened, she decided 鈥渢he biggest thing that we needed to change was the culture鈥 of inspection. Asked about the education secretary’s comments, Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said he thought 鈥減eople should act with professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect on both sides鈥. 鈥淚 think [Keegan鈥檚 comments are] referring to a previous period, I鈥檓 much more interested in a fresh start and calming down tensions. That鈥檚 in far better interests for the children and professionals in the country going forward.鈥 UNISON head of education Mike Short said: 鈥淐learly there鈥檚 much that can and should be improved in the way Ofsted inspections are carried out. But to suggest punching people is an appropriate reaction is not becoming of a government minister. 鈥淢aking light of violence in schools when staff are increasingly likely to face assaults while doing their job is in very poor taste. Ofsted inspectors are already dealing with a great deal of hostility while they work. So much for showing respect.鈥 Keegan has ‘demeaned her office’ says Phillipson Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said it was 鈥渟adly another example of the way in which Gillian Keegan has demeaned her office as secretary of state鈥. 鈥淭o do so in front of an audience of school leaders, many of whom are themselves Ofsted inspectors and take that responsibility very seriously, is frankly, pathetic.鈥 She pointed to previous controversies, including Keegan saying some children 鈥減refer portacabins鈥 during the RAAC crisis and being caught on camera suggesting she deserved praise for doing a 鈥渇***ing good job鈥. 鈥淪adly we鈥檝e seen many, many, many examples of such behaviour at a time when we need greater respect for education, where we need parents and government to work together to tackle some of these big challenges that we face, for example, around attendance,鈥 Phillipson said. 鈥淭he comments from the secretary of state do absolutely nothing to help that.鈥 Ofsted consults Sir Martyn Oliver It comes as Oliver launched the watchdog鈥檚 鈥榖ig listen鈥, a 12-week consultation on further inspection changes following Perry’s death. School staff, education organisations and parents are urged to complete the online survey. He also revealed today that will change its website so visitors see the 鈥渇ull range of component grades鈥 for each school 鈥渁t a glance鈥, and not just their overall effectiveness. He stressed the change 鈥渘either promises nor precludes further changes to our gradings, but I hope it shows that we are listening鈥. It will mean that, for each visit, the pages will also show the judgments for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management – as well as ratings for sixth form or early years provision if they have it. Correction: This article was amended shortly after publication to add ‘probably’ into Keegan’s comment about punching an inspector