Ofsted criticised for inspection during head’s cancer absence

A headteacher has called the Ofsted inspection framework “brutal” after the watchdog refused to defer an inspection when they were absent from work with cancer.

The small rural school was left in a “horrendous” situation after the inspection continued despite the headteacher - the only senior leader and full-time member of staff - undergoing surgery for breast cancer.

The school watchdog has since apologised for the impact that the timing of its inspection had on the head’s wellbeing.

Ofsted launched its new report card inspection framework last year, which means schools are now inspected across six evaluation areas on a five-point grading scale.

However, the headteacher, following their recent experience, is now part of a campaign, launched today, to improve inspections of small schools.

Ofsted rejection of deferral request ‘insulting’

The headteacher, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Tes about their experience of Ofsted inspection under the current framework.

The small school had not been inspected in four years, which is Ofsted’s maximum time between inspections.

When the watchdog contacted the school, the circumstances around the headteacher’s absence were explained and a request for deferral was submitted.

According to Ofsted’s deferral policy, it will consider delaying an inspection if the wellbeing of a senior leader would be severely impacted and there is no other delegated senior leader who can step in.

But this school leader said that Ofsted responded stating that the deferral had not been granted “without explanation”.

“It was a three-line letter. There was no explanation - I felt it was really insulting,” they told Tes.

Another member of staff had to fill in for the headteacher, despite only joining two weeks before. However, although the head was absent from work recovering from surgery, they reviewed and updated key documents and visited the school the evening before the inspection to support staff.

They described the inspection as “the longest day I ever had in my life - I felt helpless not being there”.

While the inspection resulted in a positive report card for the school, the head described the experience as “horrendous”, adding: “I still feel guilty because of the pressure that was put on my staff.

“I feel cheated because I wasn’t able to represent myself properly, and I put heart and soul into my school.”

Inspection of small schools

In 2022 it emerged that small primary schools were five times more likely to be graded “inadequate” under the previous inspection framework.

And in 2024 Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver scrapped subject deep dives after admitting it was “challenging” to carry them out in small primary schools.

The inspectorate later set up mandatory training for all inspectors to help them “better understand the context small schools operate in”, as Tes revealed in 2024.

The current Ofsted framework makes reference to small schools, saying that inspectors should “recognise that leaders may have multiple responsibilities”.

The framework states: “The leadership team may be small. It may also draw on expertise or leadership from people who are not in the school every day of the week.”

However, the headteacher who raised concerns today said that Ofsted should meet with representatives from small schools to truly understand the implications of the framework and adapt it accordingly, as the current regime is “brutal”.

An Ofsted spokesperson said: “We have written to [the headteacher] to explain why the school’s deferral request did not meet our threshold, and to apologise for the impact the timing of our inspection had on their wellbeing.”

The spokesperson added: “We never expect colleagues who are unwell or on leave to be present during our inspections, either on-site or remotely.”

The spokesperson said that Ofsted “always take a school’s context into account when inspecting, including small schools, which may have fewer school leaders available”.

Calls to revise deferral system for small schools

Campaigners today demanded that Ofsted’s deferral system for small schools be revised.

Former senior inspector Frank Norris said: “It could be argued that the decision not to defer the inspection ended well for all concerned, but this disregards its impact on the most senior school leader.”

He warned that “what this sad story conveys to me is that Ofsted has a long way to go to fully understand how small schools...operate”, adding: “They may state that they have successfully undertaken many such inspections, but this case suggests they are not sufficiently alert to the unique problems many such schools experience.”

Julie Kelly, chair of the National Association of Small Schools, said: “The Ofsted deferral system for small schools is simply not fit for purpose.”

She added: “Small school heads carry the world on their shoulders and the high quality and ability to multi-task is second to none.

“It is to this head’s great credit that she was able to prepare her school to such a high standard even in the situation where she could not be there. It speaks volumes about a broken system which still does not understand small schools and the dedication of their leaders.”