Sir Michael Wilshaw
15 June 2012, 10.15am
By Ann Willacy
Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills
Sir Michael welcomed the chance to speak directly to the conference and to have the chance to dispel some of the myths propagated by the press.
Speaking of his 40 year career as 'immersive' Sir Michael said it was his experience that leadership teams have to paint a bright picture of the direction in which schools are travelling
Society invests power, authority and resources in headteachers. The best school leaders network, incentivise their staff, work with their community and are passionate about standards.
Most importantly they are intolerant of mediocrity
Referencing Andreas Schleicher's speech earlier in the conference, Sir Michael spoke of Britain's position in the international education rankings.
Rates of unemployment are currently highest amongst under thirties and for that reason we cannot tolerate mediocre education, not only would we fail our young people but we are creating socio economic conditions which damage the country and result in riots such as those experienced last summer.
We need to recognise a culture in some working class areas where young people were padlocked into their negative culture and we need to bring back aspiration to achieve, particularly when one in six children today live in a household where no-one is employed.
Acknowledging that heads want to be in schools during inspections under the new framework, from September there will be a very short period of notice to allow headteachers to be present during their school inspections.
In addition, a new cohort of practising heads is being trained to counter the criticism that too many inspectors are too remote from leadership in schools. Sir Michael urged experienced heads to consider Ofsted and hope that soon every team will have an outstanding head in it.
Sir Michael finished by saying that education leadership in Britain was seen as world leading but there is more to be done to transform the lives of young people, and Ofsted will always back heads and teachers who are doing their best.
