Smart School Councils meets Ofsted
by Jared Hamilton, Director of Learning, Teaching and Assessment at Haringey Sixth Form College
At first glance, the title of this blog post sounds like an oxymoron.
However, Ofsted are attempting to see the full student these days – not just a data point on a spreadsheet in a ring binder in a warehouse run by robots. This is where Smart School Councils can help; at its core, SSC is about developing students’ skills as individuals and citizens.
In their new Education Inspection Framework, Ofsted outline four areas of inspection: Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, and Leadership and Management. In all of these areas, SSC can help your school prepare for Ofsted – and more importantly develop students as human beings.
Quality of Education
Ofsted is now looking at the whole education of the student – not just GCSE English and Maths grades. Transferable skills have gone up in their estimation. SSC helps students develop skills in teamwork, negotiation, discussion, persuasive communication and leadership skills (both in meetings and in the communication team).
By using the easy-to-use SSC system, you can show students using these skills in tutorial sessions and throughout the school.
Behaviour and Attitudes
Here’s where Ofsted is looking at students’ behaviour in and out of lesson and their attitudes to learning.
The best way to address student issues is through giving students a voice and getting their feedback – one way to do this is through Smart School Councils. SSC helps get student buy-in and helps everyone feel part of the whole school community.
Personal Development
Here is where SSC can help the most. Ofsted is looking at how students develop outside the curriculum, as individuals and citizens of the UK. One list of requirements in this section could almost be the manifesto of Smart School Councils.
“The provider prepares learners for life in modern Britain by:
equipping them to be responsible, respectful, active citizens who contribute positively to society [Tick for SSC!]
developing their understanding of fundamental British values [Tick for SSC!]
developing their understanding and appreciation of diversity [Tick for SSC!]
celebrating what we have in common and promoting respect for the different protected characteristics as defined in law [Tick for SSC!]”
Leadership and Management
All of this comes down to Leadership and Management – and how leaders and managers look for smart strategies to cover the other inspection areas, in ways that don’t overburden staff. SSC and its online tool do that and record data that you can show Ofsted inspectors – without stressing teachers out over extra paperwork.
In the End
The Smart School Councils system and online tool are user-friendly way to provide for and record areas that are sometimes hard to provide for and record.
It helps students feel a part of the larger community, build skills for life (not always taught in class) and develop as individuals. It just so happens that Ofsted have finally come around to looking at these important things as well.