@NewbieSlt This picture of the PE dept cycling team on last weekend’s sportive demonstrated the point. They’re the ones in the red shorts. singletracks.com/forums/topic/w…

@DaveWishingsky @fesshole It must still be raw. It seems to me it’s normal to need as much time as you need.

@DaveWishingsky @fesshole I was a headteacher, and had many people come to see me at life-changing moments. I can say with some confidence: two years.

@WhistleblowingT Don’t do anything for Ofsted. NB if lip reading was needed, have you seen the clear masks you can wear?

@DaveWishingsky @fesshole If you have time, there is a desperate shortage of volunteers for all sorts of things: school governors; nature reserves; etc.

@NewbieSlt And: if an inspector comes to your room, spend an excessive amount of time explaining why one student absent for three days in October 2017 meant last year’s GCSE scores were lower than they should have been for the whole year group.

@DaveWishingsky @fesshole Our old neighbour used to manufacture a conversation of some sort every day, even if it was going to the shop to buy something.

@Headteacherchat And the thing about teaching in a nursery class was that she genuinely wanted to win a teddy (for the classroom).

@thosethatcan Remember that everyone wants you to succeed. No one is interested in failure. They’ll all help you!

@NewbieSlt Also advised: don’t leave any spaces in the car park; any spare chairs in classrooms to be removed; huge pile of unnecessary folders in the inspectors’ room; lock adult toilets, keys only to teachers; all doors to buildings lock automatically, don’t give inspectors a fob.

@lifeatthenest For those of us in education pre-Ofsted, there were some absolutely dire schools. You just don’t see that now. The trouble is, it was down to several factors, but ministers can’t separate the impact of each element, and daren’t drop one (like Ofsted), in case that was what did it

@talkeazy @Evelynforde1 I agree, we are all complicit. However, childminders have it particularly hard. They have basically the same inspection as a school, but are not part of an organisation in the same way.

@RogersHistory Do you mean like the National College for Teaching and Learning? Shame we can’t apparently afford it any more.

@Headteacherchat My nursery teacher wife at the fair last night.

@WhistleblowingT Toxic school alert! Get out! Get out! Get out!

@titianted @WhistleblowingT Been in several schools recently and discussed this. One said ‘We are delighted to have got six applicants’, and another said ‘We thought four applicants was really good’. Very low number is the current norm. When there were a 100 was when teachers tended to move between schools.

@WhistleblowingT It could be totally innocent, but usually, it is what you feel it is. It could be: head has been told by another head someone is keen on applying; tactical, to draw another applicant into your current role if needed; waiting for budget to see if a better post can be offered; etc.

@vagabond_76 @FakeHeadteacher Inspector training for early years is a single day, as it is for 6th form. No other experience required.

@RogersHistory Nothing, because I wouldn’t believe it.

@Mrs_Ward13 @petch_matt @1drewsimpson Even if they Google, they will have to choose what they say. Sometimes, people think they are giving a wonderful answer, when they are not.

@ficoolone @ScottPughsley If you’ve paid for them, you don’t have to listen, and don’t have to have them back.

@PhilipPullman That is it in a nutshell. And now the qualifications for inspecting- good school, school leader - do not include a consideration of ‘good inspector’.

@ScottPughsley I’ve now come to the conclusion that those who know how to do it should help others along: they are the ones who know how to make it easier for you to teach, and to teach better. They can help the 30 directly, or help hundreds indirectly.

@Thinkingschool2 That’s true, but with riders. They also have to have last been in a good or better school. Neither of these things alone makes them a good inspector, but that’s not a qualifying condition.

@OuReNdOfDaYz @CSEL_STOC @Thinkingschool2 @Ofstednews Even then, the statement is still correct. Maybe what we’re looking for is good inspectors, not just those who have been school leaders.

@Yorkydavy @Thinkingschool2 That doesn’t make it not true: he has still been a school leader. Good point, though.

@SarahGi78263526 Watch out for the drunken Brits in Las Ramblas, particularly if there’s a match on.

@RogersHistory The Guardian today is recommended reading, including the articles at the foot of this one. theguardian.com/education/2023…

@NewbieSlt Will we also be working on the colour system - red books together, yellow books in their own section, etc? And with the pretty books face showing, and the plain books spine showing?

@booktowertom @PHoare1963 @RogersHistory But ineffectively. (And that’s not saying Ofsted is the answer)