The Ofsted Cut and Paste Inspections

Education standards watchdog Ofsted is facing allegations of conducting "cut and paste" inspections after identical sentences and phrases were used in two reports on failing schools.

Both schools – Belvedere Junior in Bexley, south-east London, and Malmesbury Primary in Tower Hamlets, east London – were visited by David Shepherd, the same lead inspector.

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/101425

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/134160

In both cases, the report said: "Some teachers do not plan learning for pupils at their different levels of ability and marking is not leading to improvement."

This is just one of a number of sentences that were repeated verbatim or included with just one or two words that were different, the Times Educational Supplement disclosed.

In another section of the reports, each submission stated "the majority of parents and carers are positive about how well the school develops their children's skills in reading writing and mathematics" while stating the inspectors disagreed with them.

If you receive an unfavourable Ofsted report it might be worth checking on the report wording of your your lead inspector on Ofsted's website to see whether the words used have been lifted from another report.

TES

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6243813

Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/anger-over-copy-and-paste-ofsted-school-inspections-7827939.html

BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18353533