ASCL leader calls for Ofsted consistency'

July 16 2010

There should be an overhaul of the measures used to assess schools and colleges, it has been suggested.

According to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), although schools are rightly accountable for the quality of education they provide, current mechanisms are poor.

"The emphasis on raw results in league tables and Ofsted inspections creates a perverse incentive for schools and colleges to attract the brightest students," said ASCL general secretary Dr John Dunford.

He noted that the way in which Ofsted continues to "raise the bar" for its inspections makes it appear that quality is declining, when in fact things are continuing to improve.

Dr Dunford added that judging performance on the basis of how many pupils achieve A to C grades in their GCSEs encourages schools to focus disproportional on students on the C/D borderline.

In related news, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers and the National Union of Teachers are calling for an independent review to be carried out on national curriculum tests.

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