Head teachers’ experiences of school inspection under Ofsted’s January 2012 framework

Abstract

This article focuses on head teachers’ experiences of inspection under Ofsted’s revised school inspection framework, their views of its principles and its implications for school leaders and leadership. The article draws on findings from a mixed-methods study to show that inspections are more focused on pupils’ attainment and progress. Head teachers intend to prioritize these and other judged areas over those no longer explicitly judged. Whilst broadly agreeing with the framework’s principles, many head teachers report that inspection was less positive owing to variation in inspector quality and rigidity in the (interpretation of the) framework. The article argues that leaders of schools serving socio-economically disadvantaged areas might find it harder to obtain a good Ofsted rating, with implications for head teacher recruitment and retention. It argues for improved Ofsted inspector training, a broad, values-driven leadership agenda by head teachers, and the recognition and promotion of contextual responses to educational challenges.