Ofsted chief calls for local commissioning network

Released 03/01/2012

Leading government education inspector calls for local trouble-shooters to identify failing schools and sack incompetent head teachers

The number of academy schools has grown rapidly over the past year from 203 in May 2010 to more than 1,000 in September last year

Incoming government chief education inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw has called for local commissioners to take on the responsibility of identifying failing schools, stating that the responsibility should not be down to him alone.

Speaking to the Times newspaper, Wilshaw stated that increasing numbers of schools would be converting to academy status under government reforms and as a result, the process of inspection of academy schools could become more difficult due to their autonomy from the local authority.

"It is no good just relying on Ofsted to give the judgment,” he said. “By that time, it is too late. We need some sort of intermediary bodies which can detect when things aren't going well, look at the data and have their ear very close to the ground to determine when there is a certain issue.

"I speak as someone who believes in autonomy and who believes in independence and as a great supporter of the academy programme, but we know there will be some academies that won't do well,” he added.

The number of academy schools has grown rapidly over the past year from 203 in May 2010 to more than 1,000 in September last year.

Wilshaw called on government ministers to appoint commissioners in local areas to determine whether to close or merge academies and replace head teachers and governing bodies that were not up to standard.

The chief inspector suggested the implementation of a US-style system where a network of inspectors report directly to central government rather than to local authority heads.

"These people would be non-political,” said Wilshaw. “In other words they would not be like LEAs responsible to a council... they would be people who would report directly to the secretary of state.”

Labour's shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg gave his support of the idea indicating that there was "strong evidence" the plans would work and that his party would give "serious consideration" to the idea of commissioners in the UK.

"We have been looking at the idea of local schools' commissioners to raise standards and deal with poorly performing schools, whilst protecting autonomy and local accountability," he said.

The chief inspector has also faced criticism for proposing the scheme. General secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, Brian Lightman, said: "I find this proposal absolutely extraordinary because what it's representing is a complete U-turn for the government.

"What it's saying is the academy system is not working and we need to go back to something like local authorities. It sounds to me like a system of chief education officers."

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