Ofsted is the acronym given to The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. They are the governing body for any educational or care setting where children up to the age of 16 spend any time and have the authority to place any organisation into either special measures, if their standards fall below those set or even close them altogether. As an office of central government they have been in operation since the 19th Century although it was not until the Education and Inspections Act 1992 that they began to hold the authority they do today.
The Criteria
As is currently stands the criteria which all inspectors must adhere to are those which are based on the 2009 revision of the policies of OFSTED practices. The criteria take the form of a checklist which an Inspector must complete whilst observing a lesson and it is the individual teacher and lesson that are assessed. This checklist focuses on a number of different areas but is mainly focused around the planning of lessons in accordance with curriculum, resources, support to pupils and the interaction between pupil and teacher.
Preparation is the Key to Success
Any education provider, be it a principal, teacher or classroom assistant will attest that simply the thought of an OSTED inspection can strike fear into their hearts. The thought of being watched and assessed can be bad enough on its own but add in pupils and external factors together with the fear of the unknown quantity that a room full of pupils can provide and it’s enough to give even the calmest of professionals bad dreams.
As any teacher will also attest preparation is the key to success and the OFSTED inspection is no different. Once you know what you are being tested on you can begin to prepare for it. Whether that means being familiar with the criteria by which you will be tested or even having an impartial third party undertake a trial assessment to give an indication of what the report might be it is essential to be adequately equipped for whatever lies ahead.
Cseducationservices.co.uk provides Ofsted Lesson Observation Criteria.We provide a range of flexible training courses for teachers, schools and local authorities. Visit our site for Effective Learning.