Referencing the FDA’s recent report, Beyond the Framework: The people behind inspections, Penman said:
“The casual disdain some politicians have for public servants never fails to surprise me.
“Inspection of schools raises standards and supports improvement. That work benefits pupils and, as our polling showed, is supported by teachers and parents alike. No regulator is perfect, but the rhetoric of abolition ignores the evidence, with little serious thought given to what would replace it.
“Polling in our Beyond the Framework report found 83% of UK parents with children aged under 18 agree that school performance should be independently reviewed. 73% of parents think Ofsted reports are important when choosing which school to send their child to, and 74% of teachers in England believe their most recent inspection was accurate.
“A staggering 98% of schools-based HM Inspectors report working beyond their contracted hours – these are dedicated public servants going above and beyond to ensure children are receiving a high quality education in a safe environment. They deserve better from political leaders.”
This week, the FDA attended the 2026 TUC Congress in Brighton. FDA delegates spoke to and moved motions on a range of topics, including the review of the civil service, supporting effective management, accountability and safe contracting in the NHS, and the importance of an evidence-led approach to regulation.
Yesterday, FDA staff and reps attended the 2026 Fast Stream annual Base Camp, welcoming this year’s new joiners to the scheme and sharing the benefits of FDA membership with them.
The FDA’s National Officer for Northern Ireland Robert Murtagh has written to Speaker of the Assembly, Edwin Poots, asking him to remind MLAs that when officials appear before the Assembly, impartiality must not be brought into question.
