Main content

Ofsted's Ideological Battle

After a turbulent few weeks for those at the top of the schools' watchdog, Phil Kemp asks if this public row has distracted from the real struggle going on at Ofsted.

After a turbulent few weeks for those at the top of the schools' watchdog Ofsted, with headlines about critical reports, and personnel changes, Phil Kemp asks if this public row has distracted from the real struggle going on at Ofsted. The programme investigates why the political right feels that some inspectors have been captured by an outdated progressive approach to teaching. The programme reveals that Ofsted's leaders are rewriting inspection reports, removing phrases that imply criticism of particular teaching styles. The fightback against the educational theories of the progressive left has been dubbed the battle of the Blob. Who is winning?

The programme includes interviews with Michael Cladingbowl, Ofsted's National Director of Schools, Former School's Minister Nick Gibb, Anastasia De Waal, Deputy Director of Civitas and teacher and education blogger Andrew Smith.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 13 Feb 2014 20:00
麻豆社 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Turkey: The Gulen Movement

Next

Who Killed Meredith Kercher?

See all episodes from The Report

  • Read Phil Kemp鈥檚 article on the 麻豆社 News website.

  • Free Schools

    Simon Cox investigates the battle for influence over free schools.

  • Underperforming Primary Schools

    Why some primary schools are fighting government plans to force them to become academies.

  • School Exclusions

    Investigating falling school exclusion rates which may be masking failure.

Broadcast

  • Thu 13 Feb 2014 20:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4

Featured in...

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

The Best of The Report

Listen again to the best investigations from The Report team

Podcast

  • The Report

    Original insights into major news stories and topical investigations