Always on
This project successfully funded on 2nd February 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Experiences of Ofsted inspections
Houghton le Spring, County Durham, United Kingdom
Aim
We aim to set up an independent system to monitor the impact of Ofsted's inspections on a regular basis.
The problem
Ofsted have been inspecting for 33 years but there has been no independent large-scale evaluation of its impact, positive or negative. We need robust evidence of the experience of inspections.
The solution
We aim to establish an independent register of experiences of Ofsted inspections on which the impact of Ofsted inspection can be evaluated . The word “independent” is important here because perennial complaints about Ofsted are that it has no independent complaints procedure nor has it commissioned totally independent evaluations of its activities. The new register would consist of a website where schools and early years settings could report their experiences and judgements just after the Ofsted report is issued. The institution’s identity would be hidden in any reports. Anonymity would be maintained.
What we need to do
Set up an automatised system for contacting institutions
There are more than 24,000 educational institutions that are subject to Ofsted inspections every few years. Ofsted publishes the names of institutions where reports have just been issued (Find an Ofsted inspection report). We would use that list every week to send out 20 standard letters to the Head or Setting Leader asking him or her to complete a questionnaire online. The software would extract Ofsted ratings, type of institution, date of inspection, address of the institution and name of the lead inspector. The letter would include a unique code which would allow the leader, or representative, to add their ratings. It would expire after 3 weeks.
Set up a website to record experiences
Using the weekly list of schools and early years settings, we would randomly select 20 asking them to complete a very short card questionnaire. They will be asked about their judgements and experiences – see below. Nothing that could identify an institution would be available to Ofsted or outsiders. Great care will be taken to maintain confidentiality and after each month the names and addresses of institutions will be destroyed and the postcard burned.
The card questionnaire will look like this:
NB we want to ask more than 5 questions and so we will ask everyone the same first two questions and then there are alternative questions which will will ask of different leaders
And the reverse side of the card will ask for any further comments
What would happen to the results?
The website will publish the latest set of open results which will be continuously updated. see www.monitoringofsted.com
We will publish reports with analyses, every 6 months. The reports would be available on the website and go to the Secretary of State for Education, the Chief Inspector of Ofsted, the educational press and the secretaries of all the teaching unions.
An oversight panel
A panel would oversee the register. It would include:
Peter Tymms (Emeritus Professor), Frank Coffield (Emeritus Professor), Colin Richards (Former Senior HMI), Frank Norris (Former Senior HMI) and Professor Chris Pascal (Director| Centre for Research in Early Childhood)
Costs
We have found a way to reduce our costs considerably. This is mainly by using AI to write the necessary code (programs) to extract data etc. Now, to run the project for one year, will cost £7060 This includes Crowdfunding costs plus 10% for the unexpected and inflation. It does not include any costs for the pro bono running of the project by the panel.
To run the project for three years will cost £20,685.
Due to generous funding so far we have enough to keep us going for 6 weeks
Success
How will we know if we have had an impact? After a few months we might see an improvement of the ratings as inspectors realise that they are being monitored. More importantly, within a year we hope to see the DfE seriously considering setting up an independent complaints procedure for schools and early years settings about Ofsted. Out ultimate aim is to transform Ofsted for good this might happen within 2 years.
Other issues
The names of contributors will not be posted online unless respondents wish to be identified.
Anyone contributing £500 or more will be invited to join an advisory group which would advise the panel.
Finally
Do please contribute. We are depending on you.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made