Ofsted's Big Listen: response from Education Support

The Ofsted Big Listen consultation has asked for views from school staff, education organisations and parents on the inspection process. 

The consultation is based on four priorities: how Ofsted reports on findings, carries out inspections, the impact inspection has and the organisation’s culture.

This position paper provides an overview of our views on much needed changes to the Ofsted inspection process in England.

Our recommendations for change will help to protect the mental health, wellbeing and resilience of teachers, leaders and school staff. They draw on findings from our research about inspections conducted as part of the most recent Teacher Wellbeing Index (2023) and follow-up focus groups held with senior leaders and teachers in March 2024. We also draw from our submission to the Education Select Committee’s Ofsted inquiry and the report of our Commission on Teacher Retention.