| |
Professor Stephen Ball |
Professor casts doubt on Pimlico’s Ofsted report
Top school inspector describes the process as ‘totally bizarre’
THE snap Ofsted inspection that plunged Pimlico school into crisis came under scrutiny at a Committee of Enquiry in Westminster Hall on Saturday.
Terry Wrigley, who has inspected dozens of inner London schools for Ofsted and is now a professor at Edinburgh University, said there were “enormous question marks” hanging over the report that put the school on special measures in December.
He said: “There are enormous question marks hanging over the Pimlico inspection. It was very unusual because they used a tiny team of four ‘additional inspectors’. ‘AIs’ are just brought in to do a job – like a temporary employee. The inspection failed to take into account a number of issues relating to why the school was failing. The report is totally bizarre.”
A spokeswoman for Ofsted denied the inspectors had been called by the council – but Mr Wrigley thought it was “very unlikely” someone had tipped them off.
He said: “If a local authority wants to get an inspection it is as simple as the local authority just approaching Ofsted. It is very likely it was triggered by the council, or someone close to the council, and if that is the case the team would be likely to write a negative report.”
Parent campaigner O’Neill Hemmings said the council gave the school no notice in advance of the Ofsted inspection, as is required by law.
He said: “The local authority triggered the inspection. They did not give us formal notice to improve after the original inspection by London Challenge found ‘serious weaknesses’. The council knew special measures would be the judgment of an Ofsted inspection.”
The council deny calling in the inspectors.
The trail of events that has plunged the iconic comprehensive into an unnecessary crisis was illuminated in the five-hour meeting that has left campaigners brimming with confidence.
It was chaired by a panel of leading academics including Professor Stephen Ball and Gus John from the Institute of Education, who are writing a report to be delivered to schools minister and the council during consultation over the new sponsor Future.
Michael Ball, who resisted the PFI proposals as parent governor between 1999-2003, spoke of a history of neglect.
He said: “This was a proud comprehensive school that has encountered hostility from the outset.
“Out of the £12 million of the council’s schools funds Pimlico did not get a penny. The school has been neglected for years and this is just the council’s way of washing its hands of it.”
Bridget Chapman, a teacher for 20 years at the school she loves, said: “I cannot work for an academy.” She spoke of long-standing staff in Westminster Academy leaving in their droves.
Rahul Patel, from Westminster Unison, said: “Terms and conditions at Westminster’s other schools have deteriorated. There is no sick pay. The nature of the academy is that it is not accountable.”
John and Caroline Nash and his charity Future, which was selected as sponsor for the proposed Pimlico Academy by the council last month, came under fire.
Padraic Finn, secretary of Westminster NUT, said: “It is not clear how Future is going to operate. It is, as a charity, entitled to make donations but when push comes to shove they will need to set up a trading arm to run the school. They have indicated that this is likely to be Alpha Plus, which runs private schools and is owned by Sovereign Capital of which John Nash is chairman.
“There will presumably be management fees from government funding. It is far from clear how this is going work.”
He added: “If Alpha Plus had taken over the school directly there would have been a huge hoohah. At the moment we believe Future is the soft face of Sovereign Capital.”
Professor Ball, who will compile the report and hand it to the schools minister and the council next month, told the room: “We will take your passion, intelligence and insights very seriously.” |
 |
|
| |
| |
