School leaders are being pressurised “to the point of destruction,” the head of a teaching union declared Friday, putting the education establishment “on notice” in a Belfast speech that was equal parts fury and policy laundry list.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), used the union’s annual conference to roast Ofsted, the schools watchdog for England, over its “Nando’s-style” scorecard inspection framework introduced in November. The two-day gathering is the first since that change - a move that has annoyed a number of teaching unions, presumably because no one wants their school judged like a peri-peri chicken chain.
“Ofsted does not raise standards, nor does it serve children,” Whiteman told delegates, pushing back against the notion that “anyone who wants a different approach to inspection wants to lower the bar.” He also noted that after the High Court dismissed a legal challenge to the new regime, the NAHT considered industrial action but backed off following talks with Ofsted and the Department for Education (DfE). Those discussions led to an independent advisory group to monitor the impact on headteachers’ mental health - because nothing says “we care” like a committee.
Whiteman referenced the 2023 death of headteacher Ruth Perry, who killed herself after Ofsted planned to downgrade her school from “outstanding” to “inadequate.” An inquest found the inspection contributed to her death, and her family’s campaign ended single-word Ofsted reports. “Inspection should not be about pressurising dedicated professionals to the point of destruction,” Whiteman said. “I am angry - yes, mad as hell - that Ofsted, the government and the judiciary see fit to allow lives to be left at unnecessary risk right now.”
Under the scorecard system, schools no longer get an overall grade but are judged across six areas on a five-point scale - which Whiteman called a “reductive … two-day snapshot.” He did, however, praise government policies like expanded free school meals, removal of the two-child benefit cap, and Best Start family hubs. On special educational needs and disabilities (Send) reforms, he raised the issue of “proper funding” for a white paper under consultation, noting the DfE plans to allocate £4bn to overhaul Send provision in England.
Whiteman also touched on the “politics of hate and division at work across the world,” arguing that teaching staff can challenge those aiming to increase societal divides. “That is why they seek to deny the problems you encounter every day and fail to acknowledge your success,” he said. “By casting you as the enemy … they will routinely and deliberately seek to erode the respect and confidence of parents and communities.”
If you or someone you know is affected by issues in this story, helplines are available: Samaritans (UK/Ireland) at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org; US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; Australia’s Lifeline at 13 11 14; other international helplines at www.befrienders.org.