OFSTED Inspections Put Heavy Psychological Pressure on Teachers
A survey conducted in the United Kingdom revealed that inspections by OFSTED, England’s independent educational inspection body and one of Europe’s most important audit organizations, negatively affected the mental health of two-thirds of teachers. Findings announced by the National Education Union (NEU) on the first day of their annual conference in Bournemouth showed that more than half of the state school teachers in England reported these inspections also had a negative impact on their home lives.
This is the first NEU conference after the inquiry into the death of primary school headteacher Ruth Perry, who tragically took her own life after OFSTED downgraded her school from ‘excellent’ to ‘inadequate’. Perry’s suicide in January 2023 was unequivocally attributed to the OFSTED inspection.
The NEU survey results indicate that single-word judgements do not provide a fair reflection of a school’s performance. These findings demonstrate the need for a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to evaluating schools. The mental health of the majority of teachers surveyed (62%) was negatively impacted by inspection systems, while 59% reported a negative impact on their home life.
The Department for Education’s strategy to provide a world-class education to every child has been effective, with the percentage of schools rated as good or excellent increasing from 68% to 90% since 2010. OFSTED’s independent inspections play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of children at school, keeping parents informed, and subjecting the ministry to scrutiny. These statements are supported by evidence and reflect the ongoing debate within the education community.