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Ofsted should temporarily switch to a model of ungraded inspections and boost notice periods for schools as it prepares longer-term reforms in response to Ruth Perry’s death, a leaders’ union has said.

, which represents tens of thousands of headteachers and other leaders, has published a report on “rethinking school inspection”.

It comes as Ofsted is putting the finishing touches to its official response to a report from the coroner in Perry’s inquest, due to be published on Friday.

She warned last month that there was a 鈥渞isk of future deaths if there is only lip service paid to learning from tragedies like this鈥�.

Here’s what the NAHT wants to see.

1. Immediate steps required

The NAHT report began with some immediate demands 鈥� some of which are already happening.

These include a review to learn from the Perry case, engagement with unions, training for all inspectors and a phone number for leaders to raise concerns about inspections.

Ofsted should also immediately commit to publish all training materials 鈥渋ncluding handouts, aide-memoirs and notes鈥�.

2. Interim ungraded inspection model

After those initial steps have been taken, the NAHT said Ofsted should revert to a model of 鈥渋nterim ungraded inspections for all schools (except those identified as schools causing concern), similar to those conducted during the pandemic period鈥�.

These would be focused on 鈥渆valuating and reporting a school鈥檚 strengths and weaknesses through a short letter鈥� and would allow time for Ofsted to undertake work on longer-term reforms.

During this time, the notice period for inspection should be extended so settings receive around 48 hours鈥� notice. Notification 鈥渟hould not span a weekend鈥�.

3. Scrap grading system

The NAHT then goes on to propose reforms for a 鈥渇air, proportionate and humane inspection system鈥�.

This would involve removing both the headline overall effectiveness and supporting grade judgments.

Instead, inspectors should provide a 鈥渄eeper diagnostic analysis of the strengths and areas for development of a school鈥�.

In the 鈥渧ery small number鈥� of cases where a school is not providing an acceptable standard of education or where pupils are unsafe, inspectors 鈥渟hould be able to report and identify such instances, so that appropriate support can be put in place鈥�.

4. More detailed inspection reports鈥�

Inspection reports 鈥� now 鈥渙verly simplistic and generic鈥� – should be reformed to 鈥渃ontain more detailed information about a school鈥檚 strengths and areas for development鈥�.

There should also be 鈥渃lear recommendations about specific areas for improvement鈥�.

5. 鈥�but scepticism over report cards

But the NAHT warned leaders were 鈥渟ceptical鈥� about the concept of report cards 鈥� proposed by Labour if it wins the election.

The union said it was 鈥渘ot yet clear which data would be included in a report card and how it would differ from already available public information鈥�.

鈥淎t worst this would risks creating a new series of cliff-edge, high-stakes measures, while it seems unlikely this approach would capture the richness of a more detailed written report, or the individual context and circumstances of an individual school.鈥�

6. Shake up the inspection framework

The report also called for a revision to the inspection framework and methodology, warning that Ofsted decision to create a single overarching framework 鈥渉as not worked鈥�.

鈥淲e understand the desire to work from a common set of principles that underpin all inspections, but it is clear that dedicated, discrete inspection frameworks and methodologies are needed across the different school phases, types and specialisms.鈥�

The union also demanded a 鈥渇ull review of the inspection methodology, including how inspectors decide the initial focus for an inspection and how evidence is gathered鈥�.

A new inspection framework 鈥渕ust not be used to prescribe or define specific approaches to curriculum planning or delivery, as the current one does鈥�. Nor should it be used to鈥� enforce any particular pedagogical viewpoint鈥�.

7. Review notice and decouple safeguarding

There should then be a longer-term review of the notice schools are given. NAHT believes around 48 hours should be the minimum.

The union also supports Labour鈥檚 plans to 鈥渄ecouple鈥� checks on safeguarding from inspection.

There is a 鈥渟trong argument for some form of an administrative annual assessment or review, including, for example, checking the single central register, safer recruitment process and referrals鈥�.

However, 鈥渢his would not have to be conducted by Ofsted 鈥� indeed there may be real benefits if the assessment was conducted by local authority safeguarding experts鈥�.

8. All inspections led by HMI

The union also said that all inspections should be led by a His Majesty鈥檚 Inspector, who are in-house inspectors, as opposed to serving leaders who also inspect.

The role should 鈥渃arry significant status and be seen as an attractive career option for late career leaders.

Schools should also only be inspected by an inspection team with 鈥渆xtensive and relevant phase experience鈥�.

For example, inspection of special schools, PRUs and AP should be conducted 鈥渙nly by those inspectors with relevant experience鈥�.

The NAHT also called for inspection at academy trust level.

9. New complaints process

A new, 鈥済raduated鈥� complaints process is also required.

This should culminate 鈥渋n a wholly independent complaints body, which is able to overturn inspection judgements and make binding recommendations on the inspectorate鈥�.