Ofsted warned on school inspections

The education watchdog has introduced shorter visits, lasting just a day for successful schools, with inspectors observing fewer lessons to reduce the burden on teachers.

But the Commons Education Select Committee said it was not convinced that the new system is working and that Ofsted is still "fit for purpose".

The MPs warned that the new "light touch" arrangements which cut the length of Ofsted visits so inspectors rely more on schools' own self-evaluations risked compromising scrutiny.

"Changes to the inspection system must ensure that a rigorous inspection framework that can identify under-performing schools is maintained," the committee said.

The MPs accepted that encouraging schools to evaluate their own work could help improve standards. But they added: "It is important that previously good schools which are either coasting or no longer performing at such a high level are identified early.

"We recommend that light touch inspections are properly evaluated after two years in operation, as we are not fully convinced of their effectiveness."

In April, Ofsted merged with several other agencies which had been inspecting areas such as children's services, adult education, fostering and adoption.

The select committee said in a new report: "We are concerned at the increasing complexity of this large bureaucracy.

"We cannot disguise our concern as to the fitness for purpose of the organisation at the present moment."