Polanski’s call to abolish Ofsted “ignores the evidence”, says FDA

FDA General Secretary Dave Penman has responded to Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Zack Polanksi’s call to abolish Ofsted when addressing the National Education Union’s annual conference.

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.”