Upcoming Events :
Housing Seminar: Partnerships with the Public Sector – Avoiding the pitfalls
Thu 31 May 2012
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
Outstanding schools 'will be freed from inspection'
Wed 02 Jun 2010
The UK's best-performing schools will no longer be routinely inspected by schools regulator Ofsted.
According to education secretary Michael Gove, outstanding schools will be "freed from inspection".
This, he said, will allow Ofsted to devote more time to dealing with institutions that are deemed to be failing.
However, Mr Gove told the Times Educational Supplement that if any warning signs emerge, top-performers can expect to face an inspection.
He added that parents will still be allowed to request an inspection in the event of a school experiencing any problems.
The NASUWT has meanwhile criticised the plans, dismissing them as an "unsubtle attempt" to encourage more schools to sign up for academy status.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the union, said sensible governing bodies will "see through" the government's "transparent" attempt to fuel interest in a "strategy to dismantle state education".
The policy was outlined by the Conservative Party ahead of last month's general election.
Stephen Hart, a senior solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "This is a core part of the government's agenda in freeing schools to run their own affairs.
"It's likely that in the long run, Ofsted – or some other body - will continue to have an important role to play in monitoring standards.
"However, governors can exercise their right at any time to visit their schools and should have an active programme of checking on educational standards and the performance of the senior management."
