NAHT CYMRU and NEU Cymru have written to the Cabinet Secretary Kirsty Williams to suggest a moratorium on Estyn inspections during the period that schools are implementing the new curriculum in Wales.
The letter reflects on the need to make sure that the way in which schools in Wales are inspected properly reflects the new curriculum that they are currently implementing. The concern for school leaders and staff is that at present, the two things could become out of step.
Rob Williams, Director of Policy at NAHT Cymru, the association for school leaders in Wales, said: “The role of the inspectorate is an essential part of the school system in Wales. Where public money is being spent, taxpayers are entitled to know how standards are to be kept high.
“Everyone in education in Wales is keen to raise standards. The efforts of the profession are focused on implementing the far reaching reforms that have been put in place recently. We need to be bold and we need to able to think differently.
“NAHT Cymru believes that some space needs to be created for reforms to bed in. Schools may struggle to implement the changes fully if they are awaiting a visit from Estyn. Along with our colleagues in NEU, we suggest a moratorium on inspection for a set period.
“Estyn has a critical role to play in making sure that Wales’ education system improves year on year. They need time to adjust too, just as schools are doing now. Reforms are much more likely to be successful if we pause inspection for a short period. During this time, schools can embed the new curriculum and assessment arrangements and the inspectorate can adapt its approach so that each part of the school system is fit for the future.”
David Evans, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union Cymru, said: “There are some big changes coming both to the way the curriculum is focused and to how it is delivered. I think there are legitimate concerns that caught schools between the old curriculum and implementing the new approach will find the inspection process not only disruptive but very possibly a significant hindrance to this change. Inspections during this period will also be evaluating different styles of teaching at different times given the phased timeline we have for the new curriculum introduction. A moratorium on inspections will therefore be a benefit for everyone.”
Keith Bowen, Director of the National Education Union Cymru, added: “For school leaders and teachers it will give them the confidence to be able to make bold changes knowing they can fully implement them before having to justify the impact. For Estyn it means they will be able to reassess their approach and, as has been encouraged by Professor Donaldson previously, develop a more informative assessment that works on the objections and merits of the new curriculum, valuing some of the new aspects that perhaps have not been given due credit in the past.”
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