UK: Guarded reaction to new Ofsted chairman’s appointment
The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT), two EI national affiliates, have given a guarded welcome to the appointment of David Hoare as Chair of Ofsted, the official institution for inspecting schools.
NASUWT: Confidence in Ofsted needs to be restored
“Congratulations to David Hoare on his appointment to this important role,” NASUWT General Secretary, Chris Keates, said on 31 July. “NASUWT believes that it is important that Ofsted acts in the public interest, and discharges its role without fear or favour.”
In the light of recent controversies about the increasing politicisation of Ofsted, one of his major challenges will be to restore the confidence of the public and the profession in the governance of Ofsted, she said.
She added that she was looking forward to Hoare demonstrating his commitment to acting in the public interest by resigning his seat on the board of the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), the largest academy chain in England.
NUT: Give local authorities a bigger role
The NUT also highlighted Hoare’s role in the AET. “David Hoare is a trustee of the Academies Enterprise Trust, one of the largest academy chains,” said NUT Deputy General Secretary, Kevin Courtney. “Teachers will view today’s appointment as further evidence of the Government's politicisation of school inspection. This could further widen the credibility gap between Ofsted and schools, and the new Chair will need to demonstrate his competence to chair the school inspectorate in an impartial manner with regard to all academy and community schools.”
‘It is time for a rethink on school support services,’ he added, calling for a bigger role for local authorities and a move away from punitive, centralised, data-driven judgements on teaching and learning. ‘David Hoare should make this a priority,’ he noted.
‘The NUT is looking forward to its first meeting with the new Chair and to the imminent review of Ofsted in the autumn,’ said Courtney, adding that Ofsted must listen to the views of teachers and the evidence about what helps all schools develop, learn and thrive.
