Thank you for the information you shared with us about your States of Mind, 'Breaking the Silence' project. We would be grateful if you would pass on our thanks to your colleagues and students, as we were inspired by the work you all did and have drawn upon some of your ideas to arrive at our proposals:

1. Describe a school's effectiveness! We appeal to the Chief Inspector to remove all one or two-word grades from school inspection reports and replace them with a rich narrative report focusing on pupils' engagement and learning outcomes.

2. Inspect Safeguarding separately! We appeal to the Chief Inspector to remove Safeguarding as a determining factor from school inspections and work towards a system of annual safeguarding audits.

3. Inspectors fit for purpose! We appeal to the Chief Inspector to ensure that all inspectors have sufficient knowledge and direct experience of the phase/context they are inspecting.

4. Work with the profession to develop a peer-to-peer quality assurance model for schools that puts #LearningFirst! We call upon the Government to immediately instruct the Secretary of State for Education to initiate a review of the inspection of schools and to work with the profession to develop a peer-to-peer quality assurance model for schools that focuses on the engagement of pupils and the outcomes of their learning.

We think it is true to say that in many schools, students are not seen as partners in the inspection system. Pressure is often passed down the chain as the school moves into the 'Ofsted window'. Routines and behaviours change  - with more frequent practice tests or mock inspections. Some talk about how they feel worried for the teachers because other students find it an opportunity to act out, knowing their teacher is under so much pressure. And then, it is over, the inspectors disappear, and things are supposed to go back to normal - usually, there is no direct feedback to the pupils beyond the, 'It went well, but we can't say anything more until the report is published.' By that time, the students have forgotten the inspection. Except when the school is slapped with an 'inadequate' judgement! We all are well aware of the consequences of that label for the whole school community.

Since Ruth Perry's incredibly sad death, we have been closely observing the media and Twitter over the last seven weeks or so. Yes, there have been fits and starts of coverage, lots of outrage and some useful pockets of action, but the response from Ofsted, the Government and other political parties has been woefully inadequate. If they are not going to respond to a grieving sister demanding change, over 3000 colleagues and, latterly, nearly 400 headteachers, all sharing their negative stories of Ofsted, who are they going to respond to? 

So, it is time for us, the profession, to start taking action to change things for ourselves in our schools. We cannot afford to wait for Ofsted or the Government - we are losing too many good people!

We are proposing a peer-to-peer quality assurance model for evaluation that involves or evolves from existing professional organisations like the Chartered College of Teaching, Teaching Schools, Challenge Partners, and HMIs, and which includes the essential involvement of governors, parents and pupils, is a compelling solution to the profession’s calls for reform or even the abolition of Ofsted. By working together and being more collaborative, objective and effective, this model would change existing 'inspection' cultures, promote system-wide development and ensure all schools are 'good' and that pupils receive the best possible education to support continuous improvement in pupil engagement and learning outcomes. 

 We think there are things that the teaching profession can literally start doing today that will start to change the culture and make a difference.  

You can read a summary of our proposals here.

The proposals in detail, backed up by research, personal testimony and commentary, are here. 

And finally, we would be delighted If you would add your name to endorse our proposal here. This information will remain confidential - only the numerical total of endorsements will ever be shared. However, we would be delighted to receive your endorsement in any way you see fit!

Thank you again, Chris! We hope that we can count on your support and, as an advocate for our proposals, you would disseminate them as widely and effectively as you can across your networks - the idea being that folk are directed to the most relevant open letter to them and that they go on to read the proposals, show their support by adding their name and start taking the action they can. And, if relevant, you could think about how you can help support those colleagues around you who are ready to start making a change for themselves.

With warm regards

The #LearningFirst community