We should not underestimate the shift in Ofsted’s political role implied in its condemnation of a school curriculum focused on the factory-production of results (Report, 12 October). Of course, headteachers are quick and right to riposte: “What else have you been asking of us all these years?” But more to the point, here is a regulator finally looking “up” the system to draw policy into its critical scrutiny. Hitherto, the fiction of Ofsted’s impartiality and independence has been belied by its insistence on holding schools to account for implementing policy – with a studied avoidance of the policy itself. This is the beauty (for government) of all regulatory bodies – they neatly centralise power and devolve blame. Are we seeing Ofsted finally waking up to its independent obligations? And, if so, is this a model for other regulatory agencies? After all, in a democracy accountability works both ways.
Professor Saville Kushner
Bristol
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