Headteachers threaten strike ballots after losing confidence in Ofsted

Unions tell government to fix ‘overbearing mess’ of inspection regime and its impact on staff wellbeing – or risk industrial action

Tensions between England’s headteachers and Ofsted are developing into a crisis after school leadership unions said they had no confidence in the watchdog and would hold strike ballots unless “significant wellbeing issues” caused by Ofsted’s inspections regime were fixed.

A spokesperson for ASCL said that “if change is not forthcoming” the union would seek to hold an indicative ballot on industrial action.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said it would also consider steps including strike action at a meeting of its leadership next week.

The Guardian reported last week that Lucy Powell, the education secretary, wants Ofsted to “go back to the drawing board” and overhaul the framework introduced last year. The new framework was intended to lower the strain and workload caused by inspections, but many heads say the opposite has happened.

“That’s why we are working with Ofsted and school leaders to ensure accountability is fair, proportionate and focused on helping every school get better, so every child gets the education they deserve.”

“We are working with the Department for Education on this and we will keep listening to feedback from professionals as we continue to improve what we do.”

But ASCL said it had “seen no meaningful progress on the part of Ofsted to address significant wellbeing issues caused by inspections, and that it is increasingly concerned about the welfare and morale of members”.

The motion of no confidence in Ofsted passed by ASCL’s executive stated: “We fear that the disproportionate stress and anxiety exerted by the inspection system will lead to school leaders deciding to leave their posts with a consequent impact on schools, children and young people.”

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the NAHT, said: “Our deep concerns about this Ofsted framework and the impact it is having on professionals are longstanding. Our executive committee will be meeting at the end of next week and debating the next steps NAHT will take. We fully expect that debate to include the option of pursuing industrial action.”