School inspection – listening to parents
When a maintained school is inspected, parents are invited to complete a short questionnaire summarising their views about the school. Ofsted has analysed a sample of questionnaires to create a set of national benchmarks based on parents’ views about schools.
Feedback so far from parents shows they are overwhelmingly positive about schools. Over 80% of the sample agreed or strongly agreed with each statement, and 94% of parents indicated their child enjoys school. The analysis also revealed satisfaction varied according to the phase of education and the overall effectiveness of the school.
The benchmarks will be used to assist inspectors interpreting parents’ views, and to identify levels of exceptional satisfaction or significant dissatisfaction across the different phases of compulsory education
Parents of younger pupils recorded higher levels of satisfaction than parents of older pupils, as did those with pupils in schools judged to be outstanding, or good, compared with those which were satisfactory or inadequate. The study didn't find any significant relationship between levels of satisfaction and deprivation, ethnicity or the area of the school’s location. Response rates were higher for parents with younger pupils.
The benchmarks will be used to assist inspectors interpreting parents’ views, and to identify levels of exceptional satisfaction or significant dissatisfaction across the different phases of compulsory education. They will also help inspectors to judge response rates.
