New Ofsted chief: Our mediocre schools need a radical shake-up

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Sir Michael Wilshaw said radical change is needed to stop the UK becoming more socially and economically divided.

Schools now rated outstanding by the education watchdog face fresh inspection and possible downgrading, in an effort to improve results across the board. Headteachers of "gold standard" schools will be conscripted to help Ofsted inspect neighbouring schools.

Launching a consultation today, Sir Michael urged parents and teachers to back his proposals, saying he needed the support of people who are passionate about education.

He told headteachers: "We have
tolerated mediocrity for far too long - it has settled into the system."

The quality of education provision isn't improving quickly enough, he added, "and the gap in outcomes between the richest and the poorest isn't closing. Without a radical change now, we will see more social and economic division in this country."

In future, schools would not be rated "outstanding" unless their teaching was also top-rated, he said. Currently they can have "good" teaching but an overall "outstanding" rating.

A quarter of all top-rated schools will now have their status reviewed. Sir Michael said: "There needs to be a clear gold standard understood by all."

He proposes to scrap the "satisfactory" rating, taking "good" as the new minimum requirement.
He indicated that teachers' pay could be linked to performance, and said he wants to introduce no-notice Ofsted inspections. Schools needing improvement will be fully re-inspected earlier than is currently the case, and those not improving will be put into special measures sooner.

"Children just have one chance in school," he said. "If we let our children down over the 10 years they are in primary and secondary school, that is not good."