Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far

Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far Updated 6th June 2014

Agenda • The basics • How are free schools performing? • Lessons learnt so far • Ofsted and innovation • Questions? • 2

1. Free Schools & Ofsted: the basics • Free schools are: • Inspected under the same framework as other similar types of schools: • ‘Section 5’ for mainstream, special and AP free schools • ‘Common Inspection Framework for further education and skills’ for 16-19 free schools • Inspected within 2 years of opening, from term 5 onwards • Inspections led (usually) by a HMI

2. How are free schools performing? Of the reports published so far:

2. How are free schools performing? Quality of teaching Behaviour and safety Achievement Quality of leadership and management

Lessons learnt so far: Achievement • Issues: • Particular focus on pupils’ work/books as a source of evidence • Particular focus on founding cohort / core subjects • Quality/robustness of the systems used to record pupil progress • ‘Outstanding’ progress not being seen as such by inspectors • What works: • Setting your own baselines for progress • Externally and internally moderating your assessments about pupil progress • Knowing your pupil ‘groups’ • Providing your own evidence about other types of achievement

Lessons learnt so far: Quality of teaching • Issues: • SLT overly optimistic about the quality of teaching • Lack of focus from the school on the impact teaching is having • Use of data to inform teaching/planning • The number of lessons/teachers seen by inspectors • Integration of part time/sessional staff • What works: • Moderating your own judgements about the quality of teaching • Providing your own evidence about the quality of teaching • Providing evidence about the impact of interventions to improve teaching • Demonstrating how quality of teaching links to performance management

Lessons learnt so far: Leadership and management • Issues: • SLT judgements about the school • Quality of middle leadership • Transition from the independent sector • Sharpness of action planning • Governors’ awareness of how discretionary funding is being spent in the school – e.g. pupil premium • What works: • Moderating your own judgements about the school • Governors ‘knowing’ the school and demonstrating active involvement in it • Demonstrating how leadership is being distributed through the school and your plans to develop this • Seeking external input to support leadership

Lessons learnt so far: Behaviour and safety • Issues: • Quality of safeguarding • Suitability of policies • Records of behaviour • Attendance • What works: • Recording and evaluating the impact of your strategies to improve behaviour/attendance • Ensuring policies are tailored to your school (if in a MAT)

Lessons learnt so far: Other top tips • Provide professional challenge to the judgements inspectors are making about your school, especially on: • Inspectors’ willingness/ability to understand your Free School’s ethos/focus • What defines ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ achievement • References to teaching style • Be pro-active in helping inspectors to: • Fully understand your school • Set the agenda for the inspection • Find the evidence they need • Invest in a mock inspection • Use the support of DfE Education Advisers • Use NSN’s guidance and resources

Innovation in Free Schools: Ofsted • Ofsted have been open minded about the use of innovation in Free Schools. Reports only focus on it where it has an impact on the school. • Where innovation has been shown to be improving pupil outcomes, Ofsted have praised this: • Steiner Academy Frome • Rainbow Primary • Reach Academy Feltham • However, they have also been critical of the use of innovation where it has not led to improved outcomes: • King’s Science Academy • Al-Madinah School • Greenwich Free School

Ofsted & free schools: Lessons learnt so far