Industry News
MPs criticise Ofsted
Posted on 12th July 2007
MPs have raised concerns about "weakness" within the schools inspection system in a new report.
The commons education select committee found that the enlargement of the schools inspectorate Ofsted may cause a number of problems due to the size and complexity of its new remit.
In its report, the committee acknowledged that a number of sectors that fall under the responsibility of Ofsted are concerned about the impact this may have on them, stating that the organisation needed to engage fully with these areas.
Additionally, several sectors were found to be disappointed with Ofsted's focus on assessing the quality of education provision, but not on how to improve the situation.
Committee chairman Barry Sheerman said: "It still appears that Ofsted has no capacity to give advice when a cluster of local schools suffer from systemic underperformance.
"This continues to be a weakness in the inspection system."
According to the BBC, a spokesperson for Ofsted said that the body was "confident" that it would see the benefits of becoming a larger organisation within its first year of operation.