Consultation, changes and implications for Fielding

Ofsted has published its proposed inspection framework for September 2019.  Parents, along with a wide range of other stakeholders, are being asked to respond to their consultation about the changes.  The consultation closes on 5th April.

The draft framework gives us a clear indication of how schools will be held accountable from September.  Schools judged to be 'outstanding' at their last inspection, like us, continue to be exempt from routine inspection.  However, we will judge ourselves against the new framework so that we continue to give our pupils the best possible education that we can.

Key changes include:

• a sharper focus on curriculum through the new 'quality of education' judgement;
• separate judgements for 'personal development' and 'behaviour and attitudes';
• the lead inspector spending more time in the school for 'on-site' preparation time;
• no use of school's own internal pupil progress and attainment data;
• checking how well leaders are managing workload for teachers.

As a part-time inspector for Ofsted, I have a good understanding of the reasons for change as a result of being involved in Ofsted's conference and training events over the last 18 months. Consequently, Fielding is well placed for the changes when they are implemented.

Relevant areas for our current work include:

• Sharpening our curriculum with a clearer focus on our intent, implementation and impact.  Mr Lewis, Assistant Head teacher for curriculum, is leading a team of teachers to make better links within, between and across age-groups and subject areas.  We are especially working on continuity and progression in knowledge, skills and vocabulary.  Work in this area will continue beyond September 2019.
• A need to build on our Values-based ethos, strengthen the teaching and learning of MindUp; sharpen our behaviour management and make better links between our values and their impact on behaviour.  Miss Stabler, Assistant Head teacher for personal development and behaviour, has been researching, refining and working with our staff team to make whole-school improvements since September.  She will publish new arrangements ready for the Summer Term shortly.
• SPTO, our system for tracking and analysing pupils' progress and attainment, is closing - partly as a result of these changes.  Mrs Haines, Deputy Head, who leads all of our assessment routines, is working with Assistant Heads, Year Leaders and SENDCo, to refresh all of our principles about assessment and to find a new system that better meets our needs.  How we report to parents about progress will also change with the closure of SPTO.  More broadly, we are reviewing all of our information management systems, seeking to integrate and improve them wherever possible, including Laser.
• Continue reducing teachers' workload, finding more efficient ways of doing our work.

Ofsted is encouraging parents to find out about the proposed changes and to respond to the consultation:

• Ofsted, consultation