Submission to Ofsted Big Listen Survey
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Dear GMB Members,
Thank you to those who took the time to complete the recent Ofsted Big Listen Survey, we received thousands of responses and submitted your views as a collective to Ofsted.
In each section Ofsted asked how important each set of questions were to you and each section overall came out as very important.
There were some very interesting written responses received anonymously. Thank you very much for those as it has enabled the feedback to Ofsted to be very comprehensive.
It was clear from an overwhelming number of written responses that you as support staff feel very disengaged from the Ofsted process. Many said you have worked in school for years and have never once been asked for your opinions. This was particularly common in the section on SEND. We know that support staff are working one to one with children who have high needs and you feel that you are not valued, with many saying;
"speak to staff who actually work with the child"
One comment received was "That in order to raise standards for children and learners with SEND you need adequate levels of support staff, more specialist units, and that the provision is the right one for the child and support movement to better suited provisions".
Another comment received was;
"Where the school has a facility for SEN children to learn, whether they have SALT, 1-1 support, more TA's are needed to support the children and be trained up so more staff can help with the SEN children"
We received many comments in relation to what Ofsted's priorities should be and there was a theme around ending one-word judgements, one comment received was.
"Removing the labels of Outstanding/good etc removing pressure and panic that school staff and leaders endure during the inspection, equal focus on children's personal, social, emotional developments and life skills, recognising that schools and staff do much more beyond the curriculum and traditional education".
Another theme was around taking into account staff and pupils well-being.
When asked about comments on Ofsted's current inspection many of you said;
"Inspectors should speak to non teaching staff to get a better overall impression of the general running of the school".
"The whole approach is designed to instill fear and stress"
"some inspectors appear to have an agenda"
The question about how Ofsted could best raise standards received comments such as;
"Give constructive feedback, not judgement, work with schools to help them achieve and be the best they can".
"Assert a position to influence progressive government investment in education and wants and needs and to acknowledge that underinvestment can be a factor in school performance".
We received thousands of comments in relation to Ofsted's openness, and how easy it is to provide feedback;
"This is the very first time I have had an opportunity to feedback"
"Inspectors need to spend more time with support workers to enable them to better understand how they support SEN students".
"Ofsted should talk to unions to improve measures in schools"
"Very draconian experience - puts staff under a huge amount of stress"
"The questionnaire to parents does not reflect the questions the parents think important or need to answer"
The section referring to safeguarding following the tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry and the proposal from Ofsted that where Safeguarding arrangements are ineffective but the school is good in all other areas, they could withhold finalising a judgement for 3 months to allow the school to fix the issues, received a number of comments.
"I think safeguarding should be a separate issue as it is so important. I also think that the wording "inadequate" is a soul destroying term that erodes confidence and good will amongst staff"
"I feel the new approach would be better"
"It's a step in the right direction as being bad in one area currently nullifies even outstanding in anything else. A backwards way of doing things and punishing an entire school and community for a failing in a specific department or a perceived failing on Ofsted's end rather than working towards improving it to match the other standards"
You were asked for your comments on the new Ofsted Pause policy, introduced in January 2024, some received were;
"I agree with a pause, staff within the school should be made aware of it's use and be offered the chance to work together to improve - offer support to the situation. An informed team can support better than one that is not".
"I agree with this policy as it gives schools time to prepare for an inspection"
When asked if you had any comments on Ofsted's current inspection practices there were many, a selection are below;
"Inspections should happen without notice"
"Offer advice / positive support rather than criticism"
"Ofsted should also speak to staff who work with children with SEND to gain an understanding of the difficulties faced in mainstream schools on a daily basis"
Finally, Ofsted asked for comments on their openness and how easy it is to feedback to help them to improve, a selection of comments are below;
"A publication of outcomes from the survey would give staff the knowledge that change is something Ofsted can do, and we are more a team looking to improve to the best degree all schools. It is not about punishing schools but helping them change for improvement".
"When Ofsted are in they should speak to all staff not just teaching or senior leadership"
"Listen to staff without prejudice and understand we all want what is best for the children, which is better funding, more staff and access to resources. Understand that educational staff are now also acting as family support workers, social workers, speech and language therapists, child councillors, SEND practitioners all without additional pay or support or time".
The above comments were a very small selection from thousands received. Hopefully your views will be taken on board by Ofsted and a comprehensive report is produced and the feedback helps to inform change. Thank you again to all members who took part in this survey.