Ofsted communicate out on ‘quiet curse of low expectations’ amid staunch defence of latest report playing cards | EUROtoday

Ofsted’s chief inspector has vowed that the varsity’s watchdog will “never downplay” disappointing outcomes for deprived and weak college students.

Addressing the Association of School and College Leaders’ (ASCL) annual convention, Sir Martyn Oliver is predicted to state that Ofsted will “never succumb to the quiet curse of low expectations” and can make “no apologies for being extra exacting”.

This comes after the brand new grading system for faculties was launched in November, regardless of warnings from instructing unions about its potential impression on employees psychological well being.

Sir Martyn will inform college leaders: “We see thousands of schools working in challenging contexts, bucking the odds again and again to give children a life-changing education. But we sometimes see disadvantaged and vulnerable children who are not making the strides that they should.

“Some would have this be a dilemma for Ofsted. They argue we should recognise the work and the effort – and downplay disappointing outcomes.

“But this is no dilemma.

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“Of course we will recognise the work, celebrate where that school is doing well and identify the contextual challenges being faced. But we can never downplay the disappointing outcomes.

“We will never acquiesce to the quiet curse of low expectations that would see Ofsted prioritise context over outcomes for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children.”

The speech echoes Tory former training secretary Michael Gove – and earlier than him George W Bush – in naming “the soft bigotry of low expectations” as a barrier to kids’s progress.

Ofsted scrapped single-word judgments for faculties in 2024 after criticism of the inspection system following the demise of headteacher Ruth Perry.

After a session, new report playing cards had been rolled out from November 2025, which grade faculties throughout a number of areas on a five-point scale.

More faculties are receiving the brand new “needs attention” grade than the outdated “requires improvement” one, Sir Martyn is predicted to say.

“We are being more exacting. I make no apologies for that,” he’ll add.

In an ASCL ballot final 12 months, two in three (65%) headteachers stated the brand new system can be worse for his or her wellbeing than the outdated one.

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NAHT college leaders’ union common secretary Paul Whiteman stated whereas he’s happy to see the chief inspector needs to see all kids succeed, “we have seen the rhetoric of low expectations repeated time and time again, and yet we are not clear where these are supposed to originate from”.

He added: “It is deeply disappointing to see confirmation that Ofsted has designed a framework that will see a higher proportion of schools receive a ‘needs attention’ grade than the old ‘requires improvement’ grade, and that Ofsted are publicly making a link between the two.

“Given the tragic circumstances that created the catalyst for the changes to inspection, it is quite remarkable that Ofsted has seen fit to ratchet up the pressure on schools and school leaders.”

Sir Martyn will say it’s proper that Ofsted should respect the context wherein faculties are working.

He will add {that a} “misplaced desire for Ofsted to lower the bar stems from a deep empathy with the professionals working in the most challenging contexts. But that lowering of the bar masks an ultimately damaging belief that some children ‘just won’t get there’.

“I don’t believe we can ever afford to accept that.

“Because when we expect less of certain children, whether because of where they live, what they need, or what’s happening at home, what we are telling them is: ‘We expect less of you. Society expects less of you.’”

NAHT’s bid to carry a authorized problem towards the brand new system, which was supported by ASCL and the National Education Union (NEU), was dismissed on the High Court final 12 months.

Ofsted and NAHT have since introduced they’ll work collectively to take a look at how the watchdog’s new report card system is affecting headteacher wellbeing.