Ofsted has dealt “openly and transparently” with feedback on its planned reforms, its chief inspector has claimed, after the watchdog was blasted for refusing to give a breakdown of consultation responses. Sir Martyn Oliver and recently appointed Ofsted chair Dame Christine Gilbert were questioned by the education committee today on the watchdog鈥檚 reforms and consultation process. Liberal Democrat MP and schools spokesperson Caroline Voaden pressed Oliver on Ofsted鈥檚 refusal to publish a breakdown of the 6,500 consultation responses it received regarding new 鈥渞eport card鈥 inspections. Unions have criticised the decision to provide only a narrative summary as 鈥渄eeply problematic鈥. Voaden cited findings from the “alternative big consultation” 鈥 a smaller version of the consultation run by a group of former HMIs – which found just one in 10 people viewed Ofsted鈥檚 proposals as an improvement on the current framework. She described this as 鈥渁 pretty damning verdict鈥 and asked if Ofsted chose not to publish its own consultation responses, because it received similar findings. ‘We set out clearly the negativity’ Oliver rejected this, saying: 鈥淚 think we have published openly and transparently the views that were expressed to us. 鈥淲e set out really clearly the negativity that we heard against what we proposed to consult on.鈥 He added the finalised framework 鈥渉as changed in so many ways鈥 since consultation. Requests for a 鈥済ranular breakdown鈥, he said, reflected a 鈥渇undamental misunderstanding of what a consultation is鈥. Oliver also said the fact the new inspection framework has failed to win confidence of unions 鈥渄oes concern me鈥, but said he takes confidence from the response of 鈥渢hose who鈥檝e actually experienced an inspection鈥 under the new framework. But he was not able to say whether Ofsted will publish its analysis of pilot inspections that are currently underway. Following the meeting, Voaden told Schools Week: “Ofsted can do much more to assuage concerns among parents and teachers that their reforms are in the interests of children by publishing the full details of their consultation. “Delivering the best results for children depends on restoring trust between Ofsted and schools and that starts with a shared commitment to openness. This must include improved transparency when it comes to the consultation.” Gilbert to look at making complaints independent Meanwhile Gilbert 鈥 whose damning review following headteacher Ruth Perry鈥檚 death prompted many of Ofsted鈥檚 reforms 鈥 said progress had been made by the inspectorate. Gilbert described Ofsted鈥檚 new complaints processes as 鈥渕uch more human鈥 and 鈥渇ar better鈥 than it used to be. 鈥淵ou can talk to a body, a person.鈥 Dame Christine Gilbert But she said looking at making the process independent from Ofsted was 鈥渞eally key鈥. 鈥淚鈥檒l look at the options for…greater independence in the process, and we鈥檒l come back to that hopefully by about February, March time.鈥 Oliver said he felt Ofsted 鈥済o[es] as far and if not further than almost all of the regulators in this country, with dealing with complaints.鈥 鈥淏ut do I think we can go further? I think we can.鈥 He welcomed the 鈥渆xperience鈥 and 鈥渃hallenge鈥 Gilbert will bring. Board ‘will be looking at ourselves’ Gilbert鈥檚 2024 review of Ofsted found the role of its board 鈥渁ppear[ed] curiously limited鈥, and called for it to be strengthened. Having now been at its helm for around six weeks, she assured the education committee the Ofsted board 鈥渨on鈥檛 be taking reports, nodding, and saying 鈥榳ell done鈥欌. 鈥淲e will be looking ourselves at鈥ngaging with the sector.鈥 Meanwhile Oliver said the new framework 鈥渞emoves the 鈥榞otcha鈥 moment鈥 from inspections and 鈥渨ill allow complaints to surface during the inspection rather than at the end鈥 when 鈥渢hey鈥檙e allowed to fester鈥. Inspectors will 鈥渢alk to the provider and explain what they鈥檙e seeing鈥 as they go, rather than revealing a grade at the end of day two. More details on Ofsted inspector ‘matching’ process Oliver also gave insight into Ofsted鈥檚 plans to match inspectors with settings they have had experience in. He said Ofsted had 鈥渦ndertaken what they are confident saying is the largest data set on civil servants, to match their experience and expertise鈥. He said this comprises 鈥渢wo million sets of data鈥 on HMIs. He added Ofsted now specified settings when advertising for HMI. 鈥淓ach region has looked at its strengths and deficits of experience and it鈥檚 advertising to fill that pool. We鈥檙e on it,鈥 he said. MPs also cited the recently commissioned by Ofsted, which found the new framework 鈥渄oes not reduce the pressure on leaders鈥nd is likely to increase stress and workload鈥. Asked whether this means Ofsted 鈥渉as failed鈥 in its bid to reduce pressure on leaders, Oliver said Ofsted has 鈥渕ade very significant changes鈥 to the framework in light of the report. 鈥淚 can’t make inspection entirely stress free, any more than exams or tests can be stress free, but I am doing all that I can to make them manageable, constructive and, above all, useful to leaders.” Caversham inspector 鈥榟as reflected on conduct鈥 Oliver backtracked on an assertion he made at a previous committee hearing in January, when he said there was 鈥渘o suggestion鈥 inspectors involved in the inspection at Caversham Primary School, where Ruth Perry was headteacher, 鈥渄id a bad job or did anything wrong whatsoever鈥. He thanked the committee this morning for the 鈥渙pportunity鈥o try and correct that record slightly鈥. He stressed the coroner presiding over Perry鈥檚 inquest 鈥渕ade it very clear that the fault wasn’t about any individual inspector, but it was an action for Ofsted as a whole鈥. 鈥淏ut clearly they had found concerns about the way that the conduct of that inspection had taken place.鈥 The coroner鈥檚 report found the inspection at Perry鈥檚 school 鈥渨as at times rude and intimidating鈥 and 鈥渃ontributed鈥 to her suicide. 鈥淚t is for all of our inspectors to take forward inspection of professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect,鈥 said Oliver. 鈥淎nd that inspector has reflected on the conduct and on the preventing future deaths [report]鈥.
Mr Victor Smith 15 October 2025 Funny as. Absolutely no surprise there. Ofsted is a hated organisation. Nobody respects it. Heavily political. Politicians, Unions ( who sold their soul eons ago) should hang their heads in shame that this festering boil hasn.t been lanced and drained. The Gestapo of education. Fits in beautifully with today.s Neoconservative climate.