Powell: Ofsted regime is 'high stakes and low trust'

Lucy Powell has called the current Ofsted system “high stakes and low trust” following concerns surrounding the latest inspection framework.

In a letter seen by Tes, the education secretary told the Association of School and College Leaders that she takes teacher wellbeing “incredibly seriously” and wants to keep accountability pressure “to a minimum”.

Her comments come after schools minister Georgia Gould attended a private roundtable this week on concerns over the accountability system, Tes can also reveal.

Accountability pressure ‘constantly’ on government’s mind

Ofsted has been faced with renewed criticism over its inspection framework, which was rolled out in November 2025.

Commons Education Select Committee chair Helen Hayes said this week that the emerging patterns in the framework were “problematic” after a recent Tes investigation prompted concerns around inclusion.

The NAHT school leaders’ union also said the inspectorate’s framework posed a “risk to life” and was leaving leaders “demoralised”, with the union urging the government to halt graded inspections.

Ms Powell previously said she wanted to see an inspection system that was “more supportive”, when speaking to media earlier this month.

But she goes one step further in her letter to ASCL general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio, where she casts doubt on whether the schools watchdog considers the context of schools.

“You rightly regularly raise with me the wellbeing of headteachers and teachers - I take this incredibly seriously,” Ms Powell wrote to Mr Di’Iasio last week.

“The pressure and workload on them that arises from the accountability system is constantly on our minds, and I want to ensure this is kept to a minimum,” she added.

A survey by the NEU teaching union showed 26 per cent of members who responded said their recent experience of inspection made them want to quit the profession.

Ofsted must ‘support frontline leaders and staff’

Ms Powell continued: “We need an accountability system, and Ofsted inspection is a core part of that - but it must work to support our hardworking frontline leaders and staff.

“I want to work with you, as well as Ofsted and others, to move from a high-stakes and low-trust system to one that is more supportive and, crucially, recognises the context in which you are working.”

The pressure on Ofsted has only increased with the revelation that Ms Gould attended a roundtable with sector leaders, in which the schools watchdog was a key topic of debate.