The NGA broadly supports the aims and principles of inspection, and welcomes partnership with Ofsted on behalf of pupils and schools.
The NGA is however concerned both about the quality of some inspection teams and about the limitations of the Ofsted appeals process. The NGA would like this process to be far more transparent and would support the creation of an independent appeals system.
The NGA will continue to press for an inspection regime that recognises the complexity of the task faced by schools in challenging circumstances.
The NGA is concerned that Ofsted currently report on matters - such as financial probity and health and safety - which are outside the competences of the majority of inspection teams and are already the subject of alternative independent inspection. The NGA believes that a school's Ofsted report should focus on teaching and learning and school leadership.
We welcome and value the advisory dimension of an Ofsted inspection and particularly welcome the intention set out in the 2009 framework to give more specific advice on what schools need to do to improve in the inspection report.
As the governing body is responsible for the strategic leadership and overall performance of the school, the NGA believes that inspectors must meet with at least one representative of the governing body during the inspection, and that a representative of the governing body must be invited and attend the oral feedback at the end of the inspection.