The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has warned that school leaders are considering quitting over major changes made to Ofsted inspections, with a survey finding that 52 per cent are thinking about leaving their post sooner than planned.
Survey reveals impact on wellbeing
Recording 242 responses between June and October this year, the survey found that 86 per cent of school leaders said the new inspections had negatively impacted their mental health and wellbeing when inspectors were on site. 83 per cent said the new inspections were more intense than previously.
One primary headteacher admitted that he wasn’t sure if his ‘physical or mental health could cope with another inspection like this framework’. He added: “Have been a head for 15 years across three schools and have never felt less able to do my job than I did during the inspection.”
Framework introduced last year
In November last year, Ofsted rolled out its reformed inspection framework for grading schools in England. It scrapped one or two-word judgments following the death of Ruth Perry in 2023. The Caversham Primary School headteacher took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her school from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns. An inquest into her death found the inspection was a contributory factor.
A deputy headteacher of an all-through school added: “I previously had aspirations for headship. I will now never go for headship. The stress and anxiety of the inspection has ended that dream.”
Union calls for government intervention
According to Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, the system is driving school leaders from the profession and ‘deterring talented people’ from taking on headship roles. He noted that children will ‘pay the price’ if experienced school leaders leave their positions sooner than planned.
Addressing the survey’s findings, Mr Whiteman said: “These findings represent the unmitigated failure of an unaccountable and out of control inspectorate. Ofsted’s actions are driving experienced leaders from the profession and deterring talented people from stepping into leadership and headship roles. That inevitably impacts the direction of a school, and the education it provides, and it is children who end up paying the price.”
He continued: “The Education Secretary has indicated that she is looking at further changes with Ofsted, but another belated rearranging of the deckchairs which sidelines the profession is wholly insufficient. The inspectorate has proved itself incapable of reform. It is clear that political will and Government intervention is needed to achieve the fundamental reform that is so desperately needed.”
Ofsted responds to findings
Commissioned by Ofsted to evaluate its new framework, a new independent report found last month that school leaders were ‘generally positive’ about their inspection experience. However, 48 per cent of school leaders said their staff’s mental wellbeing had been negatively affected ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a lot’ by a recent inspection.
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “Our inspections aim to carefully balance our role – which is to help raise standards for children – with our responsibility to encourage and recognise great work in schools, nurseries and colleges. We know that many leaders have found their inspections to be helpful and constructive over the last year, but others have highlighted the impact on their workload and wellbeing. That’s why we’re working with the Secretary of State on ways to reduce the pressure felt by heads and teachers, without losing our shared focus on the best interests of children and their families.”
