Teacher Support Network and sister-organisation Worklife Support recently submitted a joint response to a consultation run by Ofsted on possible inspection reforms in maintained schools.

In the run up to the consultation various changes were being suggested to school inspections, including school ‘health checks’ instead of full-on inspections for good or outstanding schools, an increased focus on learner wellbeing, staff surveys and surveys of parents to help decide what type of inspection is needed and when. Any changes will come in to force in September 2009.

In response to the proposals, Teacher Support Network and Worklife Support said that:

• Research, including that conducted by Birkbeck University in 2007, shows that the health and wellbeing of teachers has a significant link to the standard of education in schools and the quality of their leadership and management, all of which fall within Ofsted’s statutory responsibilities. If health checks are to be implemented, we would urge Ofsted to consult a range of readily-available materials relating to teacher health and wellbeing when conducting checks, for example staff retention, the frequency and causes of ill-health retirement and information from wellbeing programmes.
• For the same reasons, teacher health and wellbeing should be looked at by Ofsted when they are analysing and advising on a school’s ‘capacity to improve’. Motivating, empowering and supporting every member of staff is key to a school's effectiveness.
• A staff survey could be a powerful tool for measuring teacher health and wellbeing, but it could be counter-productive unless it is run in the right way. Much further consultation is needed on this idea.

Ofsted will be studying the consultation responses as well as testing and developing their proposals over the next year. Further consultation is set to take place with parents, pupils, teachers, headteachers, governing bodies, local authorities and other stakeholders. The results of any pilots will be posted at www.ofsted.gov.uk.