Teachers have never favoured Ofsted, but their criticisms have fallen on stony ground. Indeed despite reductions in the number of inspectors, which left those remaining stretched dangerously thin and challenged by having to take over inspecting social services, Ofsted has never seriously lost credibility. It has become an essential tool to maintain public confidence in state education. The whole Guardian article is here.
I support current Conservative changes to education, as there is a need to reverse the dumbing down carried out by the last government, but this one worries me. Since 2005, schools have not been properly inspected, and so some have been given outstanding ratings on the basis of insufficient evidence, with faults mentioned in inspection reports overlooked. Schools, in other words, are being rated outstanding because their headteachers talk a good game, and get good-looking results in the dumbed-down examinations, including the bogus vocational qualifications. One such school got an action point on its last inspection, despite an outstanding rating, for not ensuring books were marked. It still doesn't do so, and has been rated outstanding without an inspector setting foot in it.
If there is to be a presumption of exemption from inspection, a parent should have the right to trigger one by request to the secretary of state.