Ofsted vs Network Managers

[maestromasada]

Ofsted is coming tomorrow, my first insight of this dreadful event as a NM

 

Got e-safety cover, but should I expect any other questions? whats your experience on this?

Edited February 26, 2013 by ZeroHour

[plexer]

Lucky you we do too.

 

In our last 3 inspections I've never had to speak to them.

 

Ben

[elsiegee40]

It is very likely indeed that they will not come near you unless they need help with printing or something. They have too much to do scaring the pants off the SLT, governors and teachers.

[kernewek-sam]

Last Ofsted, I was asked to stay in the office by deputy-head as the inspector would be up to chat about e-safety etc shortly. He/She never turned up.

[Sylv3r]

You may be involved in a discussion regarding safeguarding / e-safety as this appears to be high on their agenda at the moment but as the majority of the above have said - it will be highly unlikely that you will see them around nevermind talk to them.

[6Foot2]

I have only had to talk to Ofsted as Network Manager once [as I recall] and that was only because one of their report writing laptops had a problem. On the subject of the Ofsted laptop I had to troubleshoot the problem without looking at the screen or touching the keyboard [un-published report content on screen] I had to get them to describe what was happening and based on their reply what they should do next.

 

I never understood why they didn't have their own support to sort out such an issue.

[plexer]

They should have and they should have used that support why should you fix their laptop under that situation?

 

Ben

[6Foot2]

Quite so. I only did it because The Head said I had to. I think he was worried about any potential effect it may have had on the report: Not that there should have been.

 

For clarification: This was a LONG time ago.

[maestromasada]

thank you fellows for your great tips, I shall be wearing shorts tomorrow then!

 

nah, will let you know what happens by friday, uf!

[twin--turbo]

We always expect and get a generally much quieter day.

 

Rob

[DSapseid]

As others have said ive been working here for nearlly 8 years and have had lots of ofsteds (were in special measures when i first started so every couple of months!) and have never once had to speak to them. Its normally a nice quiet couple of days that i use to catch up on all the little jobs that i hate like filling!

[S.C.]

I find it a bit insulting that OfSted don't speak to VLE or ICT support staff. In 10 yeas I've never once spoken to an inspector. Considering back in 2006 it was announced all schools had to have a VLE ( from 2008 - a requirement which was then scrapped admittedly), yet ours has never been audited.

 

I think it's probably because, in the nicest possible way, inspectors are former teachers who left front line teaching before the latest IT revolution. Still frustrating though not to be thought of as important enough to be inspected. But then as far as I now, the data manager isn't spoken to either. It does show the limited vision of these inspections.

[dave.81]

We dont get OFSTED but get ISI inspections instead, i've seen them every single time they are in. I've also seen the Boarding Inspectors for chats too.

[Andrew_C]

They should have and they should have used that support why should you fix their laptop under that situation?

 

Ben

The inspectors are self-employed and working under contract to an organisation who could be the other end of the country. The laptop is probably an inspectors own, not "owned" by the contractor, who will have minimal IT nouse. If the report is not published on time, they may have to inspect all over again. Something I doubt anyone wants.

 

Fixing a problem in a timely manner is the helpful thing to do.

 

(Step-mother was an RGI before retirement)

[sparkeh]

I went to a talk before Xmas from an esafety inspector who told us that as esafety has been pushed up the agenda we should expect a visit from the OFSTED inspector in the future to discuss what we do to protect our kids.

He was pretty certain that this was going to happen.

[elsiegee40]

I find it a bit insulting that OfSted don't speak to VLE or ICT support staff. In 10 yeas I've never once spoken to an inspector. Considering back in 2006 it was announced all schools had to have a VLE ( from 2008 - a requirement which was then scrapped admittedly), yet ours has never been audited.

 

I think it's probably because, in the nicest possible way, inspectors are former teachers who left front line teaching before the latest IT revolution. Still frustrating though not to be thought of as important enough to be inspected. But then as far as I now, the data manager isn't spoken to either. It does show the limited vision of these inspections.

The inspectors have a very short period of time to focus on on a few specific areas of the school. The focus of the inspection will always be driven by pupil progress. Unless the IT is seen to be having a major impact on pupil progress, I cannot see why they should need to discuss anything with the network staff.

 

In the days of 5 day inspections, long since gone, they had time to find out more about the school. Now they only have time find out the impact of interventions on vulnerable groups and to assess the teaching.

[Bezwick]

Since I started here as NM we have had 3 OFSTED inspections, the most recent in September, and i have to say it is the cushiest time i have as a NM. For 3 days the phone never rings, no-one complains and i am forbidden from making any changes to the system. In other words enjoy it, put your feet up and don't worry about it, but most of all don't leave your office. Lol.

[plexer]

E-Safety and Ofsted - E2BN

 

Ben

[pete]

We've spoken to them a few times and we ensure SLT are prepped regarding what we do around e-safety (and network security in general).

 

But mostly, we act as guides when we spot one looking lost in the labyrinth around the history dept.

[mthomas08]

Lucky you we do too.

 

In our last 3 inspections I've never had to speak to them.

 

Ben

 

 

Same here, having been in IT for a School about 10 years now I have never talked to Ofsted. I have never been asked to provide materials or any E-Safety etc.

[Chuckster]

I spoke to to an Ofstead inspectector when they came to inspect my school a couple of years ago - she wanted to know where the ladies toilets were.

[sonofsanta]

The only time I saw Ofsted last year was when the Head asked me, in an astonishingly transparent move, to take a laptop & speakers into their borrowed office so the recently-recorded orchestral CD could be played to them.

 

I imagine that the speakers were turned off within 30 seconds of me leaving the room.

[AJWhite1970]

Pretty much what everyone else has said. A veteran of about 10 OFSTED visits in a 20 year career (used to be in a failing organization before I got here so had them in every year) and have yet to be directly involved. OFSTED is a teachers/management procedure, so apart from spending the days before a visit making sure everything is working properly and sorting out whatever they need in their base room, the actual visit is a time to watch the cricket on Sky Go and resist the urge to make any system changes....

 

Been in this school for 4 years now and have still to have OFSTED pay a visit, last time was 2006 apparently

 

Andrew

[maestromasada]

I just have to confirm what the majority is saying: my impression is that they have a specific focus in active teaching and learning and a hunger for finding out results

 

Day 1 has passed and no direct contact whatsoever. Have been a long-hours day but extremely quiet. Me and the technicians have been most of the time in the IT office, watching the walls (and the goals of yesterday’s match Barcelona-Madrid) and only leaving to fix specific problems and come back again to our cave. They are four inspectors and they're interviewing teachers and students as they go along.

 

Not sure if tomorrow I’ll get a knock in the door, probably not!

[plexer]

Pretty much the same for us.

 

Ben