Union in legal threat over Ofsted changes

A HEADTEACHERS' union will explore options for taking legal action over the impact of the schools watchdog's new inspection system in England.

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The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) will not yet encourage members to stop being Ofsted inspectors, as it had previously considered, but this action may be considered in future.

Pepe Di'Iasio, ASCL general secretary, said the union does not take the step of exploring legal action lightly, "but our members are gravely concerned about the stress and pressure likely to be generated by the new inspection system with its five-point grading scale applied over multiple evaluation areas".

The ASCL's executive committee and council will also submit a request under the Freedom of Information Act for the full results of the feedback from education professionals on Ofsted's new inspection system.