'Labour would inspect schools more, not less'

SHADOW EDUCATION SECRETARY

- Jonathan Walker

SCHOOL inspections will be stepped up if Labour wins power, despite teachers’ leaders calling for watchdog Ofsted to be scrapped.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson will today unveil plans for a more rigorous regime if there are signs that standards are slipping.

The move puts her on a collision course with unions who want assessments to be paused following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

In an interview with the Sunday Express Ms Phillipson pledged to increase the frequency of Ofsted checks.

At present, schools graded good or outstanding can wait up to four years for the next inspection, while those graded lower are supposed to be revisited within 30 months.

The mother-of-two said: “Where children are being failed then action must always follow. That’s why a more effective inspectorate will be taking action where standards are slipping.

“Lots of schools have been left for years without inspection. That means we are not as confident as we should be about where there are challenges and addressing those.”

Earlier this month, delegates at the National Education Union’s conference voted to back calls for Ofsted to be abolished.