The regional director for Ofsted in London gave a webinar for teachers covering upcoming changes to school inspections. Key points included shortening the window for converting good school inspections to full inspections if issues are identified. Schools would receive letters outlining strengths and areas for improvement rather than full inspections in some cases. The director also discussed priorities around ensuring students receive a full curriculum, not just focusing on tests. Concerns about rising youth violence in London were addressed, with Ofsted looking at effective approaches schools and colleges are taking to promote student safety.

1. London teachers’ webinar
Mike Sheridan
Regional Director, London
Ofsted
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 1

2. About the London region
Slide 2
 There are 33 local authorities in London.
 There are 2,314 state-funded primary and
secondary schools in London.
 London is the strongest region for primary
school judgements (95% good or better)
and secondary school judgements (89%
good or better).
 31% of (all state) schools are academies.
 35 multi-academy trusts (MATs) have five
or more schools in the region. Harris
Federation (38 schools) and Ark Schools
(22 schools) are the largest MATs.
London teachers' webinar

3. Today’s agenda
Inspection arrangements for good schools.
Messages about the curriculum – some things to
think about.
Youth violence – what we can do to make London
a safe place for young people.
Your questions.
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 3

4. Changes to inspection
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 4

5. What has already changed since the first
consultation published in October 2017?
 We will carry out section 5 inspections for some good schools.
 We will, wherever possible, keep the window of conversion at
the current 48 hours, but may go up to a maximum of seven
working days, where circumstances dictate that to be
necessary.
 Ofsted will increase the short inspection tariff in large
secondary schools with more than 1,100 students by one on-
site day.
 Plans were made for future consultation.
 This is what will be covered during the webinar.
Short inspections of good schools January 2018

6. Three possible outcomes (December 2017)
Short inspections of good schools January 2018

7. 1. Converting short inspections,
normally within 48 hours if
there are serious concerns
about safeguarding, behaviour
or the quality of education
2. Inspectors are not fully
satisfied that the school would
receive its current grade if a
section 5 were carried out that
day, the school will receive a
letter setting out strengths and
priorities.
3. When inspectors identify
strong practice that could
indicate the school is
improving standards towards
outstanding, the school will
receive a letter setting out
strengths and priorities.
Short inspections of good schools January 2018
Overview of the consultation for January 2018

8. Summary of changes from January 2018
Is the school continuing to be good?
Is safeguarding effective?
A. Yes, school
remains good
Returns to cycle of
inspection (up to
five years but
usually three)
B. No, serious concerns
regarding either
safeguarding, behaviour
or quality of education
Full section 5 normally
within 48 hours
Decision to convert.
Lead inspector explains
that a section 5 will
follow
C. Inspectors are not
satisfied that the
school would retain its
current grade if it
received a section 5 at
this point in time
Section 5 within up to
two years
D. Yes, strong practice
may indicate the school
is moving towards
outstanding
Section 5 within up to
two years
Letter setting out
that the school
remains good
Letter setting out
strengths and priorities
for improvement
Letter setting out
strengths and priorities
for improvement
Short inspections of good schools January 2018

9. The curriculum
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 9

10. The curriculum commentary
‘What do we understand to be the real substance of education?
When we think about what the core purpose of education is,
what comes first to our minds? In recent years, we have thought
a great deal about the role of leaders and the importance of
teaching. We have also given a great deal of our collective time
to exam grades and progress measures. These are undoubtedly
important. However, at the very heart of education sits the vast
accumulated wealth of human knowledge and what we choose to
impart to the next generation: the curriculum.’
Amanda Spielman, HMCI. October 2017.
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 10

11. Some quotes
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 11
‘In the worst cases, teaching to the test, rather than teaching
the full curriculum, leaves a pupil with a hollowed out and flimsy
understanding.’
‘A considerable number of pupils will be experiencing only
two years of study before dropping, for example, history
or geography or a language, possibly never to study these
subjects again. And for most children, the end of key
stage 3 is the last time they will take art, music, drama or
design and technology.’
‘I acknowledge that inspection may well
have helped to tip this balance in the past.’

12. ‘Bold beginnings’
 All the schools visited planned a judicious balance of direct
whole-class teaching, small-group teaching, partner work and
play.
 Reading was at the heart of the curriculum. Children read out
loud frequently from carefully selected books that closely
matched their phonic knowledge.
 The headteachers prioritised language and literacy as the
cornerstones of learning.
 Leaders were much clearer about their expectations for
children’s literacy than for mathematics.
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 12

13. Youth violence
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 13

14. Youth violence thematic report
 A total of 35 young people under the age of 25 have been murdered in the capital in the
last 12 months, an 84% rise on the same period last year.
 The number of cases of serious youth violence - a measure of gang activity - also rose by
18%.
 Overall, crime in London has risen by 5.6% - or an extra 42,775 more offences - in the 12
months to the end of September, figures show today.
 There were worrying 30% increases in the categories of robbery, theft and knife crime as
well as a 16% rise in the number of rapes.
 The number of murders in London in the past 12 months has risen to 133, compared with
106 in the previous period, one of the highest totals in the past 10 years.
Evening Standard. 17 October 2017.
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 14

15. Methodology
 Listen to what experts, research and those with experience tell
us.
 Look at what is happening in London’s schools and colleges.
 Identify what is working well.
 Write a report to help schools, colleges and those who work
with them to keep young people safe.
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 15

16. Ofsted on the web and on social media
www.gov.uk/ofsted
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk
www.linkedin.com/company/ofsted
www.youtube.com/ofstednews
www.slideshare.net/ofstednews
www.twitter.com/ofstednews
London teacher's webinar - January 2018 Slide 16