Latest news with #MartynOliver
Leader Live
03-07-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Ofsted chief inspector apologises for short notice on school inspection reforms
Last month, the watchdog said it would delay setting out its final plan for school inspections until September – just weeks before new report cards are due to be rolled out in November. School leaders' unions have threatened to tell their members to quit as Ofsted inspectors unless changes are made to the timescale for inspection reform. Speaking at the Festival of Education, Sir Martyn Oliver, chief inspector of Ofsted, said he was 'sorry' about the delayed timescale as he acknowledged it was 'difficult' for schools. At the event at Wellington College, Berkshire, Sir Martyn called on school leaders to 'judge' him on the Ofsted's revised inspection model once it is published at the start of the academic year. Last year, the Government announced that headline Ofsted grades for overall effectiveness for schools in England would be scrapped. Previously, Ofsted awarded one of four single-phrase inspection judgments: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate Under proposed report cards, set out in February, schools could be graded across at least eight areas of a provision using a colour-coded five-point scale. They would receive ratings, from the red 'causing concern' to orange 'attention needed', through the green shades of 'secure', 'strong' and 'exemplary' for each area of practice. During the Q&A session at the event on Thursday, Sir Martyn suggested that Ofsted ratings can alter local house prices by thousands of pounds because parents 'value' them. When asked whether Ofsted's new report cards could affect house prices, Sir Martyn said: 'Well, I don't know.' But Sir Martyn, who used to be an academy trust leader, spoke of how he had supported two 'special measures' schools where he lived and the house prices 'shot up' after they received better Ofsted ratings. He told the audience: 'They were both in special measures, both went outstanding, and the house prices went up £15,000 within a week. 'It does make a difference.' Sir Martyn added that 'parents obviously put a value on it'. Ofsted had planned to publish its formal response to its consultation on proposed inspection reforms in the summer term ahead of the changes coming into effect in November. But Ofsted will now publish its full response in September due to the scale of the feedback it received. When asked whether this delay was fair on school leaders, Sir Martyn said: 'I think that is difficult and again I'm sorry about that.' On single-word judgments, he added: 'We've been doing something for 30-plus years in a single way. 'If I look at my phone, there will be pictures of people standing in front of their schools with balloons, with an O, an U, with a T – 'outstanding', and local newspapers up and down the country celebrate. 'It happens all of the time, and we're about to take that away and change it to something else that for more than three decades people are used to.' Sir Martyn said: 'Here's a burning question, what's Rightmove going to do?' Currently, Rightmove includes the Ofsted ratings for local schools in its listings for houses for sale. In a speech at the event, Sir Martyn said children are increasingly receiving life lessons from influencers or 'AI-generated summaries'. The Ofsted boss argued that classroom learning with human interaction 'has never been more important' as many children spend much of their lives online. He said: 'Young people are growing up in an increasingly curated world in which their favoured influencers or corporate algorithms can have a disproportionate impression on their views and opinions. 'It's more important than ever that young people are able to lift their eyes from the screen and connect with their teachers, in person.'
Glasgow Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Ofsted chief inspector apologises for short notice on school inspection reforms
Last month, the watchdog said it would delay setting out its final plan for school inspections until September – just weeks before new report cards are due to be rolled out in November. School leaders' unions have threatened to tell their members to quit as Ofsted inspectors unless changes are made to the timescale for inspection reform. Speaking at the Festival of Education, Sir Martyn Oliver, chief inspector of Ofsted, said he was 'sorry' about the delayed timescale as he acknowledged it was 'difficult' for schools. At the event at Wellington College, Berkshire, Sir Martyn called on school leaders to 'judge' him on the Ofsted's revised inspection model once it is published at the start of the academic year. Last year, the Government announced that headline Ofsted grades for overall effectiveness for schools in England would be scrapped. Previously, Ofsted awarded one of four single-phrase inspection judgments: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate Under proposed report cards, set out in February, schools could be graded across at least eight areas of a provision using a colour-coded five-point scale. They would receive ratings, from the red 'causing concern' to orange 'attention needed', through the green shades of 'secure', 'strong' and 'exemplary' for each area of practice. During the Q&A session at the event on Thursday, Sir Martyn suggested that Ofsted ratings can alter local house prices by thousands of pounds because parents 'value' them. When asked whether Ofsted's new report cards could affect house prices, Sir Martyn said: 'Well, I don't know.' But Sir Martyn, who used to be an academy trust leader, spoke of how he had supported two 'special measures' schools where he lived and the house prices 'shot up' after they received better Ofsted ratings. He told the audience: 'They were both in special measures, both went outstanding, and the house prices went up £15,000 within a week. 'It does make a difference.' Sir Martyn added that 'parents obviously put a value on it'. Ofsted had planned to publish its formal response to its consultation on proposed inspection reforms in the summer term ahead of the changes coming into effect in November. But Ofsted will now publish its full response in September due to the scale of the feedback it received. When asked whether this delay was fair on school leaders, Sir Martyn said: 'I think that is difficult and again I'm sorry about that.' On single-word judgments, he added: 'We've been doing something for 30-plus years in a single way. 'If I look at my phone, there will be pictures of people standing in front of their schools with balloons, with an O, an U, with a T – 'outstanding', and local newspapers up and down the country celebrate. 'It happens all of the time, and we're about to take that away and change it to something else that for more than three decades people are used to.' Sir Martyn said: 'Here's a burning question, what's Rightmove going to do?' Currently, Rightmove includes the Ofsted ratings for local schools in its listings for houses for sale. In a speech at the event, Sir Martyn said children are increasingly receiving life lessons from influencers or 'AI-generated summaries'. The Ofsted boss argued that classroom learning with human interaction 'has never been more important' as many children spend much of their lives online. He said: 'Young people are growing up in an increasingly curated world in which their favoured influencers or corporate algorithms can have a disproportionate impression on their views and opinions. 'It's more important than ever that young people are able to lift their eyes from the screen and connect with their teachers, in person.'
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
End to school rating system could play havoc with house prices, says Ofsted chief
House prices in England could be put in turmoil by the government's scrapping of headline school grades such as outstanding or inadequate, according to Ofsted's chief inspector. Speaking at an education conference, Martyn Oliver said parents and schools had become familiar with headline grades after 30 years of use, saying he knew of house prices shooting up by £15,000 after nearby schools were graded as outstanding. But from November schools and colleges will be given more nuanced 'report cards' with up to 11 different grades given to each institution. Oliver said: 'We're about to take that away and change it to something else that for more than three decades people were used to. I mean, here's the burning question: what's Rightmove going to do?' Rightmove and other property websites prominently display Ofsted's headline ratings for nearby schools on their listing. After laughs from the audience, Oliver said: 'It's a serious point. Ofsted is probably one of the best-known regulators and inspectors in the world, let alone in this country.' Asked what impact the new report cards would have on house prices, Oliver said: 'I don't know but I do know that where I live … we've got two special measures schools right where I live, and the house prices shot up. They were both in special measures, both went outstanding, and the house prices went up £15,000 in a week. It does make a difference. 'Parents obviously put a value on it.' Ofsted inspections and gradings were criticised after the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry, after an Ofsted inspection downgraded her school from outstanding to inadequate. Perry's husband told her inquest that she worried local house prices would fall as a result of the downgrade. Doing away with headline school grades and bringing in report cards was a manifesto pledge by Labour at the last general election. From November, schools and colleges in England will get ratings issued on up to 11 different areas. Each area will be given one of five grades: exemplary, strong, secure, attention needed or causing concern. But there will be no overall or summary grade. So far, headteachers and teaching unions have been unimpressed by Ofsted's proposals, while Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, is said to be monitoring the results closely. The chief inspector apologised for the rushed nature of the changes and consultations. He said: 'The system was saying Ofsted needed urgent and quick reform. And so I chose to put something out that I knew would be just the beginnings, just the foundations.' Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, said: 'The mess Ofsted have got themselves into is entirely of Sir Martyn Oliver's making and it is disappointing that he has tried to pass the buck.' In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@ or jo@ In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at
South Wales Guardian
03-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Ofsted chief inspector apologises for short notice on school inspection reforms
Last month, the watchdog said it would delay setting out its final plan for school inspections until September – just weeks before new report cards are due to be rolled out in November. School leaders' unions have threatened to tell their members to quit as Ofsted inspectors unless changes are made to the timescale for inspection reform. Speaking at the Festival of Education, Sir Martyn Oliver, chief inspector of Ofsted, said he was 'sorry' about the delayed timescale as he acknowledged it was 'difficult' for schools. At the event at Wellington College, Berkshire, Sir Martyn called on school leaders to 'judge' him on the Ofsted's revised inspection model once it is published at the start of the academic year. Last year, the Government announced that headline Ofsted grades for overall effectiveness for schools in England would be scrapped. Previously, Ofsted awarded one of four single-phrase inspection judgments: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate Under proposed report cards, set out in February, schools could be graded across at least eight areas of a provision using a colour-coded five-point scale. They would receive ratings, from the red 'causing concern' to orange 'attention needed', through the green shades of 'secure', 'strong' and 'exemplary' for each area of practice. During the Q&A session at the event on Thursday, Sir Martyn suggested that Ofsted ratings can alter local house prices by thousands of pounds because parents 'value' them. When asked whether Ofsted's new report cards could affect house prices, Sir Martyn said: 'Well, I don't know.' But Sir Martyn, who used to be an academy trust leader, spoke of how he had supported two 'special measures' schools where he lived and the house prices 'shot up' after they received better Ofsted ratings. He told the audience: 'They were both in special measures, both went outstanding, and the house prices went up £15,000 within a week. 'It does make a difference.' Sir Martyn added that 'parents obviously put a value on it'. Ofsted had planned to publish its formal response to its consultation on proposed inspection reforms in the summer term ahead of the changes coming into effect in November. But Ofsted will now publish its full response in September due to the scale of the feedback it received. When asked whether this delay was fair on school leaders, Sir Martyn said: 'I think that is difficult and again I'm sorry about that.' On single-word judgments, he added: 'We've been doing something for 30-plus years in a single way. 'If I look at my phone, there will be pictures of people standing in front of their schools with balloons, with an O, an U, with a T – 'outstanding', and local newspapers up and down the country celebrate. 'It happens all of the time, and we're about to take that away and change it to something else that for more than three decades people are used to.' Sir Martyn said: 'Here's a burning question, what's Rightmove going to do?' Currently, Rightmove includes the Ofsted ratings for local schools in its listings for houses for sale. In a speech at the event, Sir Martyn said children are increasingly receiving life lessons from influencers or 'AI-generated summaries'. The Ofsted boss argued that classroom learning with human interaction 'has never been more important' as many children spend much of their lives online. He said: 'Young people are growing up in an increasingly curated world in which their favoured influencers or corporate algorithms can have a disproportionate impression on their views and opinions. 'It's more important than ever that young people are able to lift their eyes from the screen and connect with their teachers, in person.'
North Wales Chronicle
03-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Ofsted chief inspector apologises for short notice on school inspection reforms
Last month, the watchdog said it would delay setting out its final plan for school inspections until September – just weeks before new report cards are due to be rolled out in November. School leaders' unions have threatened to tell their members to quit as Ofsted inspectors unless changes are made to the timescale for inspection reform. Speaking at the Festival of Education, Sir Martyn Oliver, chief inspector of Ofsted, said he was 'sorry' about the delayed timescale as he acknowledged it was 'difficult' for schools. At the event at Wellington College, Berkshire, Sir Martyn called on school leaders to 'judge' him on the Ofsted's revised inspection model once it is published at the start of the academic year. Last year, the Government announced that headline Ofsted grades for overall effectiveness for schools in England would be scrapped. Previously, Ofsted awarded one of four single-phrase inspection judgments: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate Under proposed report cards, set out in February, schools could be graded across at least eight areas of a provision using a colour-coded five-point scale. They would receive ratings, from the red 'causing concern' to orange 'attention needed', through the green shades of 'secure', 'strong' and 'exemplary' for each area of practice. During the Q&A session at the event on Thursday, Sir Martyn suggested that Ofsted ratings can alter local house prices by thousands of pounds because parents 'value' them. When asked whether Ofsted's new report cards could affect house prices, Sir Martyn said: 'Well, I don't know.' But Sir Martyn, who used to be an academy trust leader, spoke of how he had supported two 'special measures' schools where he lived and the house prices 'shot up' after they received better Ofsted ratings. He told the audience: 'They were both in special measures, both went outstanding, and the house prices went up £15,000 within a week. 'It does make a difference.' Sir Martyn added that 'parents obviously put a value on it'. Ofsted had planned to publish its formal response to its consultation on proposed inspection reforms in the summer term ahead of the changes coming into effect in November. But Ofsted will now publish its full response in September due to the scale of the feedback it received. When asked whether this delay was fair on school leaders, Sir Martyn said: 'I think that is difficult and again I'm sorry about that.' On single-word judgments, he added: 'We've been doing something for 30-plus years in a single way. 'If I look at my phone, there will be pictures of people standing in front of their schools with balloons, with an O, an U, with a T – 'outstanding', and local newspapers up and down the country celebrate. 'It happens all of the time, and we're about to take that away and change it to something else that for more than three decades people are used to.' Sir Martyn said: 'Here's a burning question, what's Rightmove going to do?' Currently, Rightmove includes the Ofsted ratings for local schools in its listings for houses for sale. In a speech at the event, Sir Martyn said children are increasingly receiving life lessons from influencers or 'AI-generated summaries'. The Ofsted boss argued that classroom learning with human interaction 'has never been more important' as many children spend much of their lives online. He said: 'Young people are growing up in an increasingly curated world in which their favoured influencers or corporate algorithms can have a disproportionate impression on their views and opinions. 'It's more important than ever that young people are able to lift their eyes from the screen and connect with their teachers, in person.'
