Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Ofsted School Inspections

06 December 2022 · 3 other contributors · 4,236 words

Opened by Philip Hollobone Con Kettering

Responding minister: Nick Gibb

Education

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Philip Hollobone raised concerns about ofsted school inspections in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Minister responds to securing of debate by thanking the member for Kettering
  • Minister values the opportunity to listen to insights on the subject
  • Ambition to ensure all pupils receive quality education across the country is shared

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Other contributors (3)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    He commended the hon. Gentleman for his initiative and expressed shock at the allegations made, suggesting that the inspection has increased anxieties among teachers, parents, and others involved.

  • Kim Leadbeater Lab Spen Valley

    She thanks the hon. Gentleman for securing the debate and asks if he agrees that Ofsted inspections should not be narrowly focused on academic achievement, but rather adopt a more holistic approach to assess social and emotional resilience in children.

  • Scott Benton

    My hon. Friend is making a powerful speech. He raises concerns about Ofsted's approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion statements, questioning whether it goes beyond the necessary equality regulation in legislation.

Government Response

Nick Gibb

It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship for the first time, Ms Harris. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr Hollobone) on securing this debate, and I thank him for his kind opening remarks. This important subject deserves scrutiny and discussion in the House, and I have valued the opportunity to listen to my hon. Friend's insights in his well-constructed speech. We all share an ambition to ensure that every pupil in every school across the country receives the education they deserve—one that helps them achieve academically, and more broadly prepares them to thrive and contribute to the world beyond school. Ofsted, as the independent inspectorate for schools, has a distinct and central role to play in supporting that ambition. The value of Ofsted, and the root of its credibility, comes from its independence. That does not mean that Ofsted operates in a vacuum; it is an arm of Government but can inspect and report without interference. This independence places an onus on Ofsted to ensure that all its inspections are conducted to the highest professional standards, producing inspection judgments that are fair, evidence-based and accurate. The new framework sees a shift of focus towards the importance of curriculum, the intent of that curriculum, how it is implemented and the impact it has on pupil attainment and achievement. However well trained the expert workforce, and however good the framework, it is right that quality and consistency are checked. Ofsted monitors the quality of inspections through a range of formal processes. Nine out of 10 inspections are regarded as a good experience by schools but where there is dissatisfaction, schools can raise their concerns with the lead inspector during the inspection process or submit a formal complaint to Ofsted if issues remain unresolved; only around 2% of inspections lead to a formal complaint being received.

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