[Maths-Education] Ofsted's effect on ITT student placements

[Jim D.N. SMITH(EDS)]

After some correspondence over the last year with ministers, Ofsted and
the TTA about schools withdrawing placements when hearing of impending
Ofsted visits, I can report some progress (which might have a little to do
with my efforts, but might not). 

Firstly, the revision of 4/98 indicates that ministers expect the TTA and
Ofsted to work together on this matter. 

Secondly, Ofsted have independently moved forward on this fron by issuing
guidance to inspectors. Unfortunately, this guidance is not widely
available to schools and may require ITT institutions to publicise it for
better effect. I have therefore scanned the text and forward it for others
to use as they think fit. I suspect a misprint in the last line, as
indicated.


"13.  INSPECTING SCHOOLS THAT HAVE TRAINEE TEACHERS

Inspectors frequently encounter trainee teachers in the schools they
inspect.  Some schools, however, are either reluctant to take trainee
teachers when they anticipate an inspection or withdraw the trainees from
teaching during the inspection.  This is normally because of apprehension
that their effectiveness may prejudice judgements about the quality of
teaching in the school, although we have no evidence of trainee teachers
letting the school down in this way.

We ask inspectors to be sensitive to these fears.  There should be no
reason why a school should not honour its teacher training commitments
while being inspected.  Indeed, schools should continue to operate as
normally as possible during an inspection and participation in the
preparation of new teachers should be seen as one of the core activities
of any effective school.  It is often necessary to visit classes that are
taught by trainees, particularly in primary schools or small departments
in secondary schools.  Inspectors also need to evaluate the arrangements
made by the school to support trainees.  But since trainees are not a
regular part of the staff of the school, their performance should not
normally be taken into account in arriving at findings about the school. 
Exceptions to this practice might be where classes being taught by
trainees are not learning as well as they should because the trainee lacks
adequate supervision or is simply being treated as a relief teacher.  Such
scenarios could reflect an the management of the school.  It is more
likely that the positive benefits of participation in initial teacher
training will be apparent to inspectors and these should be reflected in
the inspection report.  Inspectors are reminded to report on the
effectiveness of the schooi's arrangements for initial teacher training,
where there are trainees in the school, particularly commanding
[commending?] good practice."

>From Ofsted Update 34, Winter 2000.


jim

Jim D N Smith BSc MEd BA
Mathematics Education Centre
School of Education
Sheffield Hallam University
36 Collegiate Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2BP

http://www.shu.ac.uk/schools/ed/teaching/dns/
http://www.shu.ac.uk/schools/ed/centres/ma.html

0114 225 2349 desk
0114 225 2339 fax

d.n.smith@shu.ac.uk

Common-sense is unexamined theory.