Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

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Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014

Transcript of Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

Page 1: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

Ofsted & free schools:

Lessons learnt so far Updated 6th June 2014

Page 2: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

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1. The basics

2. How are free schools performing?

3. Lessons learnt so far

4. Ofsted and innovation

5. Questions?

Agenda

Page 3: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

1. Free Schools & Ofsted: the basics

• Free schools are:

• Inspected under the same framework as other similar types of schools:

• ‘Section 5’ for mainstream, special and AP free schools

• ‘Common Inspection Framework for further education and skills’ for 16-19 free schools

• Inspected within 2 years of opening, from term 5 onwards

• Inspections led (usually) by a HMI

Page 4: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

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1. The basics

2. How are free schools performing?

3. Lessons learnt so far

4. Ofsted and innovation

5. Questions?

Agenda

Page 5: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

2. How are free schools performing?

Of the reports published so far:

Page 6: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

2. How are free schools performing?

Quality of teaching

Quality of leadership and management Achievement

Behaviour and safety

Page 7: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

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1. The basics

2. How are free schools performing?

3. Lessons learnt so far

4. Ofsted and innovation

5. Questions?

Agenda

Page 8: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

Lessons learnt so far: Achievement

Issues:

• Particular focus on pupils’ work/books as a source of evidence

• Particular focus on founding cohort / core subjects• Quality/robustness of the systems used to record

pupil progress• ‘Outstanding’ progress not being seen as such by

inspectors

What works:

• Setting your own baselines for progress • Externally and internally moderating your

assessments about pupil progress• Knowing your pupil ‘groups’• Providing your own evidence about other types of

achievement

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Lessons learnt so far: Quality of teaching

Issues:

• SLT overly optimistic about the quality of teaching• Lack of focus from the school on the impact teaching is

having• Use of data to inform teaching/planning• The number of lessons/teachers seen by inspectors• Integration of part time/sessional staff

What works:

• Moderating your own judgements about the quality of teaching

• Providing your own evidence about the quality of teaching

• Providing evidence about the impact of interventions to improve teaching

• Demonstrating how quality of teaching links to performance management

Page 10: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

Lessons learnt so far: Leadership and management

Issues:

• SLT judgements about the school• Quality of middle leadership• Transition from the independent sector• Sharpness of action planning • Governors’ awareness of how discretionary funding is

being spent in the school – e.g. pupil premium

What works:

• Moderating your own judgements about the school • Governors ‘knowing’ the school and demonstrating

active involvement in it• Demonstrating how leadership is being distributed

through the school and your plans to develop this• Seeking external input to support leadership

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Lessons learnt so far: Behaviour and safety

Issues:

• Quality of safeguarding • Suitability of policies • Records of behaviour • Attendance

What works:

• Recording and evaluating the impact of your strategies to improve behaviour/attendance

• Ensuring policies are tailored to your school (if in a MAT)

Page 12: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

Lessons learnt so far: Other top tips

• Provide professional challenge to the judgements inspectors are making about your school, especially on:

• Inspectors’ willingness/ability to understand your Free School’s ethos/focus

• What defines ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ achievement • References to teaching style

• Be pro-active in helping inspectors to:• Fully understand your school• Set the agenda for the inspection• Find the evidence they need

• Invest in a mock inspection

• Use the support of DfE Education Advisers

• Use NSN’s guidance and resources

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1. The basics

2. How are free schools performing?

3. Lessons learnt so far

4. Ofsted and innovation

5. Questions?

Agenda

Page 14: Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6 th June 2014.

Innovation in Free Schools: Ofsted

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Ofsted have been open minded about the use of innovation in Free Schools. Reports only focus on it where it has an impact on the school.

Where innovation has been shown to be improving pupil outcomes, Ofsted have praised this:

•Steiner Academy Frome•Rainbow Primary•Reach Academy Feltham

However, they have also been critical of the use of innovation where it has not led to improved outcomes:

•King’s Science Academy•Al-Madinah School •Greenwich Free School

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1. The basics

2. How are free schools performing?

3. Lessons learnt so far

4. Ofsted and innovation

5. Questions?

Agenda