A union that has criticized an “unproductive cottage industry surrounding inspection preparations” is hosting its own webinars to assist leaders in getting ready for Ofsted evaluations, charging nearly £150 for each school.
In a policy paper released in 2023, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) urged Ofsted to make inspector training materials publicly available to “clarify misconceptions about Ofsted’s expectations and curb the unhelpful cottage industry that has emerged.”
The watchdog now provides training resources on its Ofsted Academy website and is offering complimentary webinars to the educational sector regarding its new report cards, which are set to roll out next month.
However, ASCL pointed out that schools are still eager for more clarity on how the report cards will function, exacerbated by the brief period between the announcement of final plans last month and the resumption of inspections in November.
The union is currently promoting its own webinars featuring “insight, guidance, and assistance” concerning the inspections.
One of the sessions will delve into “the kinds of evidence inspectors will examine to form their judgements and propose a self-evaluation methodology to assist leaders in their preparation.”
The fee for five sessions is set at £120 plus VAT for each school or organization.
Ofsted ‘strongly discourages’ payment for preparatory training
When queried about the ASCL webinar, a spokesperson for Ofsted remarked: “We strongly advise against schools utilizing their limited budgets for training materials that claim to prepare them for inspection.”
“Ofsted has recently conducted a series of complimentary webinars tailored for various types of educational providers, where we shared firsthand insights on what to expect from the new inspection approach.”
“Thousands of education professionals participated, and we are in the process of uploading all recorded sessions to our YouTube channel, where they are available for viewing at any time—completely free of charge.”
However, ASCL’s general secretary, Pepe Di’ Iasio, expressed concern that Ofsted’s insistence on hastily implementing a significantly revised inspection framework has left schools and colleges little time to adapt to this new series of high-stakes challenges.
He added: “We have already worked diligently to address this demand by distributing information and addressing questions regarding the new framework through our usual communication channels. This service is provided at no cost as part of our regular offerings to our members.”
“It is evident that some schools and colleges are in need of a more comprehensive program of practical assistance, and as a trusted provider of high-quality professional development, we believed it was essential to provide that through our Ofsted webinar series.”
‘Good value’
The union charges annual membership fees ranging from £258 for business managers to £486 for executive heads or CEOs.
Di’ Iasio noted that the “substantial program” equates to £24 per session and is recorded for sharing purposes. “We believe this represents good value and offers a cost-effective solution,” he stated.
Ofsted has long criticized consultants who sell training to schools regarding inspections.
In a 2018 blog post titled ‘The myth of Ofsted consultants: do not buy the snake oil,’ former national director for education Sean Harford remarked that the “profitable industry that promotes consultations about ‘what Ofsted desires’ and ‘preparation for Ofsted’ appears to thrive.”
“Please, do not waste your resources on these so-called experts,” he cautioned.
Ofsted publishes training resources
In response to reforms following the passing of headteacher Ruth Perry, the Ofsted Academy was established to provide materials related to inspector training.
The watchdog indicated that this initiative would “open Ofsted up to those we assess and share our knowledge.”
“We are committed to increasing transparency about our operations by sharing our training in context and ensuring our processes are visible,” Ofsted stated on its official website.
Despite this, schools continued to receive offers from consultants attempting to sell training regarding the new report card inspections earlier this year, even before final plans were released.
Speaking to TES about the matter in March, Di’ Iasio described this behavior as “indicative of the high-stakes nature of the inspection system.”
The union has maintained its call for Ofsted and the government to reconsider the five-point grading scale and the timeline for implementation, expressing deep concern over the pressure this places on leaders and staff, which could negatively affect their wellbeing.
