Teach Secondary Issue 13.6

Foil or functionary? Adrian Lyons considers what the recent history of relations between Ofsted and government can tell us about where we may be heading next... I n recent years, the role of the Secretary of State for Education in the UK has been a revolving door, with numerous individuals occupying the position and leaving little lasting impact on the educational landscape – or indeed on Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education. This high turnover rate canmake the leadership of a school under Special Measures appear remarkably stable by comparison. Reflecting on the last decade, it’s easy to forget some of the figures who have briefly held the position, highlighting the transient nature of their influence – particularly the tenures of Kit Malthouse (6th September 2022 to 25th October 2022) and Michelle Donelan (5th to 7th July 2022). AnHMCI inheritance The most significant shifts set inmotion by the Education Secretary have tended to occur with changes in the governing party, as we’ve witnessed over the course of the summer just gone. This is a fairly well- established pattern, with similarly dramatic transitions previously occurring in 2010, when Michael Gove was appointed to the role, and in 1997, during the tenure of New Labour’s first Education Minister, David Blunkett. What’s interesting to look back on now is how both appointments quickly raised questions concerning the existingHerMajesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) eachMinister inherited. ChrisWoodhead, who was appointed as Ofsted chief in 1994, stands out as a particularly controversial figure in the regulator’s history. Known for his outspoken criticismof the education systemand its teaching staff, Woodhead’s claim that there were ‘ 15,000 incompetent teachers ’ became infamous. His tenure was marked by an consistently adversarial relationship with the teaching profession, making hima contentious figure whenNewLabour came to power. Despite facing significant pressure to replace him, David Blunkett actually renewedWoodhead’s appointment, since he valued his stance on educational standards over the need to appease the teaching unions. Broad and holistic FollowingWoodhead’s departure, the HMCI role was filled by Sir Mike Tomlinson, and later Sir David Bell. Bothmen sought to maintain a somewhat lower profile in the role, while quietly implementing a number of important changes to the wider inspection framework. After Bell left to become permanent secretary at the then Department for Education and Skills, there was a period of interim leadership before Dame Christine Gilbert eventually took over in 2006. Her appointment was highly scrutinised at the time, due to her marriage to a Home Office minister, which sparked accusations of cronyism– all firmly denied by the DfEaS. Under Gilbert’s tenure, Ofsted’s priorities came to be closely aligned with the Labour government’s ‘Every ChildMatters’ agenda, emphasising a broad and holistic approach to school inspections. Her era is often remembered fondly nowadays for its comprehensive focus on various aspects of student development, including academic progress, behaviour, healthy lifestyles and future economic wellbeing. However, this ambitious scope for inspections often clashed with the practical limitations imposed by the resources available. Back to basics As most readers will know, the election of the Coalition government in 2010 marked a dramatic shift. As the newly appointed Education Secretary, Michael Gove opposed Gilbert’s broad inspection framework, preferring instead a focus on traditional educational standards and behaviour. Despite initial resistance, Gilbert left in 2011, paving the way for Gove to appoint Sir Michael Wilshaw. Wilshaw’s tenure brought a narrower focus to inspections, with a particular emphasis on standards and discipline. Yet tensions arose when Wilshaw asserted Ofsted’s independence from government – particularly when some of Gove’s flagship free schools were rated Inadequate. Given this background, it’s understandable that the current HMCI, SirMartyn Oliver, has delayedmaking major reforms to Ofsted until the newSecretary of State, Bridget Phillipson, has got her feet under the table. He’d previously said that his role is to carry out the policy of the Secretary of State of the day, but this is a position with whichmany would disagree. The HMCI’s job descriptionmentions ‘advising’ the Secretary of State, and building highly effective relationships with Ministers, but this doesn’t involve being a functionary. While I may yet be proved wrong by the time this article is published, I suspect that the current HMCI has been canny enough to survive this latest change of government... ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adrian Lyons was one of His Majesty’s Inspectors between 2005 and 2021 and now works with MATs, teacher training providers and LAs to support education; find out more at adrianlyonsconsulting.com 21 teachwire.net/secondary O F S T E D