“We were perfectly happy with it,” said Peter Jefferies, the headteacher.

“The report matched our own evaluation of the school.

“The inspection was intensive but much less stressful for staff than the previous system. The self-evaluation part allowed us to have a really good look at the school and has been useful.”

Mr Jefferies does have some concerns about the new system. “Two-day inspections provide a snapshot of a school,” he said.

“If the inspectors make a mistake but you’re still judged to be satisfactory, good or outstanding, then it’s not the end of the world.

However, I would hope that if there were serious concerns about a school after a short-notice inspection, then rather than it being placed straight into special measures another, longer inspection would be triggered, perhaps a month later.”

Platform 21, Letters 26

* jon.slater@tes.co.uk