The schools watchdog is to open a new 鈥淥fsted Academy鈥 to bring together all its 鈥渟pecialist inspection and regulation learning under one roof,鈥 Schools Week can reveal. The inspectorate is in the early stages of developing the concept as part of its 鈥渁mbition to learn from Civil Service organisations that already use this model and to provide the very best training for our inspectors鈥. New chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver pledged to open up the 鈥渉igh-quality鈥 training inspectors to the sector as part of a promise the inspectorate will be 鈥渙f the system, by the system.鈥 The project was disclosed in a for a head of organisational development to 鈥減lay a leading role in the establishment鈥 of its academy. 鈥淚n future, this could also include all of our generalist learning as well as the Civil Service professions and elements of recruitment,鈥 the advert said. In return for a salary of just under 拢80,000, Ofsted said the successful applicant will 鈥渓ead the transformation of our learning approach over the next two years.鈥 New boss wants to be more ‘transparent’ It entails setting the 鈥渟trategic direction of Ofsted’s learning culture鈥 and spearheading organisational development to achieve its 鈥渟trategic priority to have a skilled workforce.鈥 The employee will design and deliver 鈥渁n academy approach, offer and structure that meets the needs of the organisation in the future.鈥 Sir Martyn Oliver Ofsted was criticised in 2022 for refusing to publish 鈥渁ide memoires鈥 鈥 training guides that summarise inspection criteria 鈥 given to inspectors after some were leaked online. Oliver has since signalled to be more 鈥渙pen and transparent.鈥 He told Schools Week previously: 鈥淲e need a modern, fit-for-purpose inspectorate 鈥 that actually sees Ofsted being far more a part of the system. 鈥淚t really shouldn鈥檛 be a sense of duality or elimination, it should be synthesis. And that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 trying to create: it鈥檚 not us and them, or get rid of one or keep the other. It should be Ofsted is 鈥榦f鈥 the system, 鈥榖y鈥 the system and 鈥榝or鈥 children, parents and students.鈥 Ofsted refused to comment. Inspections restarted this week after a pause for inspector mental health training.
C lkjhy 27 January 2024 The blind leading the blind. Will it be as ‘successful’ as Frontline ? Or the DfE commissioned Hackney Model of Children’s Services ? How will it’s success be measured. Who will be responsible for learning and teaching?. Will restless inspectors be sent to isolation rooms? Refused the use of bathrooms ? Drinking water? Restrained ?
Mike Dunn 28 January 2024 Presumably a well-paid CEO, plus lots of other staff (with little or no education experience) to run it – another great way to fritter away the already inadequate education budget.