Reactions to Inspection: a study of three variants

Individual interviews were conducted with inspectors and teaching staff involved with three primary school inspections in three different LEAs. The interviews took place some time after the end of each inspection when the findings were generally known amongst the teaching staff. The inspections differed according to the degree of negotiation allowed to staff, the extent of inspection coverage, and degree of conformity to a full inspection model. Teacher reactions appeared to vary according to the extent and nature of any ‘surprises’ in the inspection reports and their findings. Some general issues emerged which were concerned with the contextualisation of judgements and the influence of time on the credibility of inspection methods. These issues and those relating to the resourcing of inspections are discussed in the light of the national arrangements for inspection inaugurated by the 1992 Education (Schools) Act and overseen by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED).