Inspecting the Inspectors

A new report has turned the tables on Ofsted, by examining how effective the organisation's inspections are in terms of raising standards in schools. The main conclusions from the NFER report are that schools are broadly satisfied with how inspections are carried out, although some critics argue that Ofsted reports merely highlight issues that staff are already aware of - Impact of Section 5 Inspections is now available online. Ofsted have also just published Review of the Impact of Inspection, a self-assessment document produced with regard to the NFER's research.