A tightly controlled level of something only faintly resembling panic has set in at the School as we embark on four days of inspection. The outcome is expected to be positive – if not very positive – which certainly adds to the pressure.
Independent schools in the UK are inspected by a body called the Independent Schools Inspectorate – or the ISI (should you prefer the TLA). An ISI inspection can take one of two forms – an interim inspection or a full inspection. This one is the latter. Independent schools must be inspected every six years at the outside, but inspections can occur more frequently should the inspectorate deem there to be a need so to do.
The effect of this regimen is that the more time passes without an inspection taking place the higher is the likely-hood of one being called at any point. The ISI gives one week’s notice – making the announcement of an inspection by a telephone call on a Tuesday for a visit the following week – the which has the effect of keeping everyone constantly on their toes. As time passes and the probability of an inspection increases so one feverishly checks the number of weeks left in the term during which such a visit could take place. Since much of the summer term is ruled out by examinations, had we in this instance made it through another week without getting the call we would have been in the clear until the autumn.
No matter. Better in many ways to get it out of the way.
The inspection team comprises eleven inspectors who – in addition to all of the attention that they will be paying to governance, health and safety, child protection and other policy issues – will be observing around one hundred classes over the four days. There won’t be time for the inspectors to observe every teacher but they will cover the majority of them and – understandably – no notice will be given as to which those will be. The inspectors will appear – or they won’t! I have two drama classes on Thursday – either (or neither!) of which might be chosen. At this point I am really not sure whether I would prefer to be observed – or not.
We shall see…
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To quote George Bernard Shaw… “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach;”.
Whilst disparaging of teachers, it’s not a sentiment I’ve ever shared and the motto of a department I worked for as an apprentice was “Sorry G.B.S., we can, we do, we teach”.
I do, however, have another variation which, in my perhaps cynical opinion of educational inspectors, is that they “can not, do not nor have the ability to teach”. They do, unfortunately, have the ability to pass judgements on teaching establishments and their staff which can be damaging.
I’d hope that most, if not all, independent schools and colleges would pass these inspections with flying colours. It’s a sad fact, however, that many educational establishments, despite commitment from staff, won’t be so fortunate due to lack of funding.
Sorry, that sounds like a bit of a rant but I really feel teaching isn’t a science (even when teaching scientific subjects) and I’ve never understood how the inspections can accurately quantify the quality of any educational establishment.
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I fully understand your sentiments regarding inspectors – though it has to be said that in the case of the ISI (as opposed to Offsted – of which I have no experience) the inspection team are at least all either current or recently retired head teachers, heads of departments or teachers themselves.
You are right – the majority of independent schools should indeed pass inspection without too much trouble, though it will be interesting to see – going forward – the equivalent statistics for the new ‘free’ schools. You are also completely correct concerning resources. No point pretending that we are not considerably more fortunate than many other schools.
Teaching isn’t a science – it is a skill, and has – for me – also a bit of an art about it. Measuring it is not easy – but I can see that it is important at least to attempt so to do – otherwise there can be no accountability at all. The ISI inspection guidelines make interesting reading – which I have had to devour in some depth. I don’t agree with all of it, but I do with a fair bit.
Most grateful – as always – to hear your thoughts. Thanks for sharing…
Cheers
Andy
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