Monday morning. Year 10. A revision lesson that I would
generously describe as ‘bang average’. My Head teacher enters, walks up to me
at the front of the class and says those 4 words we’ve been anticipating for
months…
“We’ve had the call”
Just because we’ve been expecting it, doesn’t mean it
doesn’t momentarily cause complete and utter panic. If my Year 10 lesson was
average at best before this news, in the last 40 minutes only got worse. I was
thinking about anything but that lesson. What lessons have I got for the next 2
days? Are my books up to date? When was the last time I marked them? Did every
student respond? What were my plans for the next 2 days? Whatever they were,
they’ve now changed.
Anyone who has been through this will know the feeling well.
For anyone who hasn’t, it’s very similar to that vine that’s doing the rounds
from the American Office, the one where Steve Carrell is telling everyone to
stay calm, yet is clearly anything but. In a situation like this panic can
spread quickly, and staying calm is absolutely vital.
So fresh from our Ofsted visit last week, I thought I’d try
to put together my top 5 tips for being prepared for a successful inspection.
1.Don’t panic Mr.
Mainwaring
Don’t
be a Corporal Jones or a David Brent, whether you’re a head teacher, on the leadership
team, head of department or with responsibility for any staff you need to ensure
you’re spreading calm and not panic. If you do need a moment, take yourself off
to your car, lock yourself in a toilet cubicle, nip out for a fag but once
you’ve had a private moment, it’s a calm, composed and positive message to give
to your staff. For our inspection we had all our Ofsted folders prepared, I
think I maybe printed out 2 things that I had created the weekend before and I
was set. Thorough preparation will enable a calm start to your inspection and
will also calm your staff, enabling them to perform exactly as you want them
too. I’m sure it was no coincidence that once we got the message our inspection
was going well, the calm spread amongst the staff and they taught just as they
normally would do.
2.Take calculated risks
Everybody
wants to shine during an Ofsted visit, everyone wants to produce when your
school needs it the most and nobody wants to let the side down. So risks should
be taken but only calculated risks. The Champions League final is not the time
to try out that brand new formation, just like your wedding day isn’t the time
to debut that funky new hairstyle. Your Ofsted lesson isn’t the place to try
something with a class you’ve never done before. Never attempted group work
with bottom set Year 9? Today isn’t the day to try it. I went with an old favourite;
speed dating. I’ve done it plenty of times before with my Year 10’s, they know
the drill and I know they find it fun and beneficial when revising. My advice; think
about what activities you’ve had the most success with this year. What did the
students really enjoy? Plan lessons using these strategies for the big days.
3.Look after your staff
A
bit of TLC will be needed with your staff, I made a conscious effort to be as
positive as I possibly could, smiling, wishing everyone well, checking on young
or inexperienced members of staff and giving a clear, concise message. Offering
advice if needed. One of the most helpful things our school did was to order in
a selection of Domino’s pizzas. Staff came to the staffroom for a little break,
could stay at work later to plan their lessons and this meant they didn’t have
to worry about going home and cooking a meal. In fact, these pizzas (and the
left-overs I found in the fridge) were all I ate during the 2 days. Giving me
more time to get my work done and enabled me to get to bed at a reasonable time
so I was fresh for the big day ahead.
4.Follow the behaviour
policy
Ofsted
inspectors don’t throw your school into a category if there is poor behaviour
in your lesson. In fact, they must come to expect that some students may play
up to the person with the clip board at the back of the room. The problem
arises if you try to ignore poor behaviour instead of dealing with it in the
normal fashion. Whatever your school policy is, the inspector will be expecting
to see it in action. During our inspection I removed one student my colleague’s
lesson, the young man in question did his best to disrupt the lesson during day
one so we were pro-active and put a plan in place for day two. And when the
lead inspector spoke to this student, sat on a separate desk at the back of my
classroom he was able to explain why he found himself there and why he was
completing different work to the rest of the pupils in the class. A far
stronger message about behaviour than if my colleague kept quiet and tried to
brush his disruptive behaviour under the carpet.
5.Don’t lose touch with
reality
However
important the visit is, remember that it is still only 2 days. Any inspection
team worth their salt should be able to tell whether the things they’re seeing happen
day-in, day-out. Remember that you still have responsibilities as a parent, a
husband, a wife, a boyfriend, a girlfriend. Still get home in time to put your
littles ones to bed or make that phone call you had planned. If you’re doing
the right things every single day, we should have confidence in a team of
inspectors to be able to see this.
I know this was a top 5 but if you could indulge me with a 6th,
it would be to make sure you arrange for all your staff to meet a local pub
once it’s all over and done with. Hopefully to celebrate.
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