Last year, Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman announced that the new inspection framework, due for publication in late 2019, would return to the “substance of education” and reward institutions “that are all about education, rather than a numbers game”.

In January 2019, Ofsted launched a consultation process on the new draft inspection framework and handbook for schools. In Nesta’s response to this consultation, we welcome Ofsted’s proposal to move towards a more holistic assessment of education quality which focuses on a broad curriculum and values the personal development of young people.

However, we also recommend that Ofsted:

1. Publishes more detail on the skills schools should be developing in young people, drawn from the best available evidence from education and on the future of employment.
2. Provides teachers and inspectors with more clarity around what constitutes high quality, evidence-based provision in the area of personal development. Without this, there is a risk of inconsistency in the way inspectors assess this area of schools’ provision. Ofsted should use its research arm to share best practice, monitor what is working and showcase successful approaches.
3. Ensures that schools continue to use formative assessment to support students’ learning across a broad range of subjects. Artificial intelligence has the potential to facilitate the collection of data in a more efficient way, and Ofsted should explore its potential to inform inspections.

Read Nesta’s full response to the consultation