NUT: Ofsted’s Parent View website
Thursday, 20 October 2011 10:41 AM
Commenting on today’s launch of the Parent View website by Ofsted, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said:
“Parents are generally very supportive of their children’s schools. What is important for parents is that they have a voice in schools and that their views are taken seriously. This is most effectively achieved though direct communication with teachers in a proper and logical way, instead of going online at the end of a busy day.
“It's not clear why parents, who may have quite legitimate questions to which they seek answers, would choose the route of a questionnaire to express their concerns, or otherwise, about a school.
“Apart from the obvious question as to what useful purpose the questionnaire will serve, this is a system which is open to abuse. Schools could easily be targeted by parents unfairly, or even in anger, which could result in a false impression being given of the school.
“As if there were not enough already, this will be yet another layer of accountability against which schools will be measured. It really is time that the Government insisted everyone listened to what they themselves say should happen and start trusting teachers, and not put their faith in subjective measurements such as this.”
END pr139-2011
For further details contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 380 4706 or 07879480061
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