Ofsted MAT inspections should be ungraded, says trusts body

The sector body representing multi-academy trusts (MATs) has asserted that new Ofsted inspections for MATs should not carry grades.

The government has committed to implementing Ofsted inspections for MATs in the current parliamentary session.

Today, a report from the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) has outlined its stance regarding these inspections.

“A grading system would likely lack validity or reliability and impose unnecessary pressure with no observable benefits,” it contended.

Instead, it proposed that inspection results be compiled as “written reports highlighting critical trends in school quality within the group, alongside analysis of the group’s effectiveness in addressing identified weaknesses.”

CST believes this method would facilitate accountability for MATs without imposing excessive burdens. They stressed that it would prevent “behavior distortion stemming from high-stakes evaluations.”

The organization suggested that inspections should be performed by “a streamlined team of specialist HMI, complemented by seasoned practitioners” who occupy leadership roles within trusts and other organizations managing multiple schools, along with “well-defined procedures for handling potential conflicts of interest.”

This report was made public during CST’s annual conference in Birmingham, and it cautioned against “inspections merely for the sake of carrying them out”, insisting the government must illustrate how this initiative will provide value to the education system and ultimately to students.

Group Inspections Beyond Trusts

CST emphasized that inspections should be conceptualized as “group inspections” rather than exclusively focusing on “trust inspections”, as “trusts do not solely represent responsible bodies overseeing multiple schools”.

It pointed out that MATs already undergo significant public accountability via external audits, regional oversight, and subsequent inspections of individual schools within the trust.

“Should group inspections be limited to trusts, the government is obliged to clarify what equivalent accountability measures exist for other entities,” it added.

CST characterized the transition to Ofsted inspecting trusts as a “notable policy shift”, asserting that the education secretary must ensure this change “genuinely enhances the system rather than merely exacerbates burdens”.

At present, Ofsted provides summary evaluations of trusts (MATSEs), conducting batch inspections of several schools within a trust but refraining from assessing the operations of their central teams.

Ofsted is currently seeking a policy lead to help guide the new inspection framework, indicating that progress is imminent.

However, the DfE is required to formally consult on the policy and enact legislation prior to the initiation of MAT inspections, with no designated timeline available at this stage.

Both the DfE and Ofsted affirmed their commitment to collaborating with the sector as the government develops its strategy.