18 June 2015 weekly update

Dear Colleagues

The Common Inspection Framework

Ofsted has just published the inspection handbooks and the evaluation schedule (DOC, 875.5 KB) for the new Common Inspection Framework (DOC, 659.5 KB). (Common Inspection Framework slides - June 2015 (PDF, 710.5 KB)).  This new inspection process (PDF, 206.3 KB) from September 2015 places greater emphasis on the impact of leaders' work in developing and sustaining an ambitious culture and vision in the school; a broad and balanced curriculum; safeguarding, which will be central to every inspection; and pupils' outcomes, where inspectors will give most weight to the progress of pupils currently in the school rather than attainment and nationally published data.

There will be a new judgement on personal development, behaviour and welfare. This will include a focus on pupils' confidence and self-assurance as learners and their pride in achievement, the impact behaviour has on outcomes and the choices pupils make about their next stage of learning.

The judgements on the effectiveness of early years provision and 16 to 19 study programmes are now exactly in line with the early years and further education and skills handbooks so that pupils and parents can make informed choices.

Inspectors will make graded judgements in the following areas:

• Overall effectiveness
• Effectiveness of leadership and management
• Quality of teaching, learning and assessment
• Personal development, behaviour and welfare
• Outcomes for children and learners
• The effectiveness of Early Years and sixth form provision, where applicable.

Inspectors will always make a judgement on the effectiveness of safeguarding. Inspectors will consider the breadth and balance of the curriculum under the effectiveness of leadership and management judgement.

All schools that were judged good at their most recent inspection will receive a short inspection approximately every three years. All short inspections of schools will last for one day. In secondary schools and the largest primary schools, the inspection will be conducted by two HMI. In most primary schools, one HMI will be on site for one day.

• Short inspections will focus on whether good quality provision has been sustained. They will not be mini full inspections and will not make graded judgements.
• Inspectors will focus on the performance of the school or provider and leadership and management
• Where inspectors find that good quality provision has been sustained by leadership and management, a short formal published report will be provided in letter format setting out the main inspection findings. If a significant concern arises that the school or provider may no longer be good, inspectors may recommend that a full inspection takes place
• Similarly, if there are indications that the school or provider may have improved and there is a likelihood of it being judged 'outstanding' under a full inspection, inspectors may recommend that a full inspection is scheduled.

Following the short inspection, the HMI will write a report in the form of a letter that will confirm that the school remains good and that safeguarding is effective. The letter will address progress since the school's last inspection, what inspectors have seen during their visit and next steps the school will need to take.

Ofsted will not inspect 'outstanding' schools and Early Years settings routinely, but will retain the powers to inspect if performance drops or other concerns are raised. A sample of outstanding schools and settings are inspected each year.

A handbook for each remit applies the principles of the framework to the needs and expectations of different phases of education and training.

Kent Leaders of Education

Following discussions with the Kent Association of Headteachers, we are inviting applications from Headteachers who would like to be Kent Leaders of Education (KLEs), for a period of three years, supporting the improvement of other schools.

 We recognise the significant capacity in Kent for system leadership by a number of Headteachers who can and do support the improvement of other schools, in addition to the current national programmes for NLEs or LLEs.

 The designation of Kent Leader of Education recognises the experience of successful Headteachers, who would like to do more in school improvement to support other schools and Headteachers (including those newly-appointed), usually within the same area of Kent.

The Kent Association of Headteachers is sponsoring this initiative and agreed the following criteria.   Kent Leaders of Education would be expected to:

(i)    be a serving, substantive Headteacher of a Kent school, judged a good or outstanding, with at least three years' experience and expect to remain at her or his current school for at least two years after designation;

(ii)   have the full support of the school's Governing Body and the Local Authority to take on this role;

(iii)  be able to demonstrate experience of providing support to another school or schools and their senior leaders;

(iv)  be able to commit to the time expected for KLE deployment (a deployment with a school improvement focus may last between 6 months and two years, with regular opportunities to review progress; and deployment as a coach and mentor to a new Head through his or her first two years of headship could require a time commitment of about 20-30 hours).

A Kent Leader of Education's current school would:  

(i)   be rated a good or outstanding school (in an OfSTED inspection that took place after January 2012, or by the Local Authority if the last OfSTED inspection took place before January 2012);

(ii)  show consistently high levels of pupil progress and continued improvement over the last three years, and (except in the case of Special Schools), be above the current floor standards;

(iii)  have capacity and experience of senior leaders to work with and support other schools.

If you would like to take part in this programme, please send the attached form (DOC, 31.0 KB), and return it to Gillian Cawley, Director Education Quality and Standards (Gillian.Cawley@kent.gov.uk), by Friday, 26 June 2015.

I hope you will want to contribute to this initiative, to support the further development of leadership capacity around the County and the effective dissemination of the best practices for school improvement. Thank you.

Patrick Leeson
Corporate Director Education and Young People's Services