Ofsted ‘falling short’ on improving FE, researchers claim

Academics said studying Ofsted's impact on further education is 'crucial' for skills and social justice

Academics said studying Ofsted's impact on further education is 'crucial' for skills and social justice

Ofsted is “falling short” on its aim of being an “intelligent and proportionate force for improvement” in further education (FE), research has suggested.

Researchers for The Edge Foundation and from University College London surveyed and interviewed 53 stakeholders from FE colleges, sixth form colleges, adult learning institutes and specialist colleges.

The research, published today, found that negative impacts of the education watchdog’s inspections are “more numerous than the positive ones,” especially in colleges serving disadvantaged communities.

Negative impacts include “unsustainable or harmful levels of burden,” heightened anxiety among staff, and a focus on metrics that detract from meaningful improvement efforts.

Educators – quoted anonymously – also report high-stakes inspections are affecting staff retention, with some saying, “inspection ends people’s jobs,” pushing valued teachers out of the sector entirely.

However, researchers also found that inspections had positive impacts, such as giving a “stamp of approval or quality assurance”, boosting confidence and good marketing for attracting students and parents.

Research on FE impact ‘scarce’

Overall, the academics found a “scarcity” of research on the impact Ofsted has on further education and skills sector.

However, all 14 studies they did find “raised concerns” about the negative effects of inspections.

The report said studying the impact of Ofsted on FE and skills is “crucial” for delivering “skills and social justice agendas”, given that the sector educates students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with lower education achievement levels, and a higher risk of dropping out.

Under new chief inspector Martyn Oliver, Ofsted has said it wants to put vulnerable and disadvantaged children “at the heart of what we do”.

Reduce ‘high stakes’ inspections

Some stakeholder suggestions such as stopping the “reductionist” overall grade, are already being implemented by the watchdog following the Big Listen consultation earlier this year.

The education watchdog is reforming its inspection framework ahead of the rollout of new inspection report cards, which will be tailored to FE and skills, as well as starting a new ‘academy’ for training inspectors.

However, other suggestions put forward include reducing the “high stakes” nature of inspections, potentially by not publishing outcomes, some stakeholders suggested.

Making inspections more “developmental and advisory”, rather than judgmental, could also proposed to foster a more collaborative environment, researchers were told.

Stakeholders also said inspectors should extend their visiting time and their reports could be “expanded” to provide detailed feedback on improvements.

Colleges ‘sidelined’

Anne Murdoch, senior adviser in college leadership at the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “This research demonstrates that those working in FE colleges share many of the same frustrations with Ofsted as their counterparts in the school sector.

“It is therefore disappointing that some of the recent positive changes, such as the removal of single headline grades, currently apply solely to schools in the state sector with no timescale for a wider rollout.

“We strongly encourage the DfE to consult with colleges and other settings as a matter of urgency about how to improve inspection for them in the short term, ahead of the introduction of the new accountability system based on report cards.”

Murdoch added: “FE colleges have felt sidelined in decisions about accountability. It’s vital that the new system is based around an agreed set of standards following consultation with the whole of the education sector.”

Ofsted was approached for comment.

Latest education roles from

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Romero Catholic Academy Trust

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Ormiston Academies Trust

Principal & Chief Executive

Principal & Chief Executive

Truro & Penwith College

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

London & South East Education Group

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Supporting the UK’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan Through Skills

The UK Government’s Decarbonising Transport: A Better, Greener Britain strategy sets a legally binding path towards a net-zero transport...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Project power: ASDAN expands its qualifications portfolio

From 2026, ASDAN’s planned Foundation and Higher Project Qualifications will sit alongside its Extended Project Qualification[CM1] , creating a complete...

Advertorial
ATAs

Spotlight on excellence: Nominations now open for the Apprenticeship & Training Awards 2026

Nominations are open for the 2026 Apprenticeship & Training Awards, celebrating outstanding employers and providers with national recognition, a...

FE Week Reporter
Sponsored post

Funding Adult Green Skills

New sources of funding are available to finance the delivery of green skills to all learners. Government policy is...

Tyler Palmer

More from this theme

Colleges

£31k FE teacher training bursaries to continue in 2026-27

Experts say bursaries are 'very effective for recruiting more teachers and retaining additional teachers long-term' amid Labour's 6.5k pledge

Billy Camden
Colleges

More than half of Turing trips turned down

The government also underspent its budget despite a one-third cut

Anviksha Patel
Colleges

UCU launches England-wide college strike ballot

The Association of Colleges says the union's 10 per cent pay rise demand is unaffordable

Josh Mellor
Colleges

CCC teachers begin strikes over sixth-form pay freeze

Their pay could be frozen for up to 3 years until a 'discrepancy' between their salaries and the rest...

Josh Mellor

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

One comment

  1. Phillip Hatton

    It is a shame that independent training providers and employers, who deliver the best quality apprenticeships, were not included. They would have contributed rich views on Ofsted and a lack of positive impact. The Adult Learning Inspectorate would routinely give improvement advice and I set up a Good Practice Database that highlighted how key areas could be improved. Although it went across to Ofsted when they absorbed the ALI it withered and was not developed further. I also served in the ALI Provider Development Unit that worked with failing providers and helped turn the vast majority around. When we became HMIs we were actively discouraged from giving advice that would help providers. I can safely say that having inspectorates that cause fear does not help anybody, but there has to be inspection in order to say ‘this is where you are’ in order to focus on where you can be.