There was a time in the 1980s and 1990s when HM inspectors led the way in designing high-quality interactive training courses, or so we hear. They were full of role playing and group work and were highly interactive with a minimum of time spent listening to speakers. Sessions were evaluated by participants.
Not now. The “bums on seats” model prevails. Audiences sit and listen for hours on end, as evidenced by HMIE’s recent annual conference in Dunblane.
The staffroom view that inspectors aren’t allowed out on their own without strict instructions was confirmed by the post-conference activity - an organised walk to relax posterior muscles.
