Amanda Spielman, the outgoing head of Ofsted, has publicly criticized the education secretary, accusing them of reversing effective reforms and catering to education unions. Spielman, who stepped down at the end of 2023, expressed her concerns over recent changes to Ofsted and government proposals for academies, suggesting these adjustments are driven by union influence. She voiced her views in an interview with the Daily Telegraph and on Radio 4's World at One programme.
Spielman accused the education secretary of employing "polished verbiage and jazz hands" when announcing new policies. She claims that the reforms have been shaped by education union leaders and activists, leading to alterations that could undermine the efficacy of Ofsted inspections. Spielman argued that these changes are being made "to please unions," making it "much less likely that inspection will detect weaknesses or convey a negative message."
In her critique, Spielman expressed surprise at the involvement of education unions in discussions about Ofsted, noting that the unions were consulted for comments on related stories. She stated, "attacking accountability and attacking inspection from long before I became chief inspector," implying a long-standing issue with how inspections are perceived and handled.
Spielman's remarks also targeted the government's proposals concerning academies. She believes these proposals would significantly reduce the autonomy of schools and school groups, stating they would "cut the autonomy of schools and school groups right back." She urged the education secretary to reconsider the reforms in the bill "before the damage is done."
Her criticism extends to what she perceives as an undue focus on appeasing teaching unions. Spielman accused the education secretary of giving "a great deal of time and attention" to these unions, suggesting that such focus may not serve the broader educational landscape effectively.
Spielman's tenure as head of Ofsted saw her advocating for accountability and rigorous inspection standards. Her departure marks the end of a significant chapter for Ofsted, yet her parting criticisms suggest she remains concerned about the direction in which educational oversight is heading.
