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OFF WITH HIS STED!
Much to the fury of many head teachers,
OFSTED has resumed its normal school
inspection regime, taking the impact of
Covid into only nominal account. The
bureaucratic inflexibility of OFSTED
methodology is perhaps best illustrated
by this example from its capacious
archives:
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT The tutor, Mr JC, did not provide a
coherent lesson plan or evidence of any
Date of observation: 15 June, AD 31. follow-up strategies, written or oral. In
Place of observation: Hebron, Judea addition, crucial health and safety issues
Lesson Observer: Dr Max Rigour were not addressed, given the heat and
the geological instability of Hebron.
Notes on observation: Some acoustic issues not picked up: one
The lesson consisted of a series of student was under the impression that
‘beatitudes’, challenging with provocative the ‘cheesemakers’ rather than
simplicity the values of the established ‘peacemakers’ were being blessed.
status quo. Summary: A gifted teacher, perhaps
Delivery was confident. Class attentive, more concerned with performance than
despite several mutinous mutterings with learning outcomes.
from traditionalists. However, such a Grade awarded: 3.
didactic method, reliant upon undoubted Ian Barge
charisma, prevented any truly creative
interchange between teacher and taught. (Note - I must in fairness add that my own
There was also too little evidence of OFSTED encounters were all positive and
‘differentiation’; lessons should always encouraging – not alas, the case in many
address varying levels of ability. inspections.)
SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
A man stopped by his local ‘I do indeed,’ enthused the
florist shop to buy flowers on florist enthused. ‘How about
his way to visit his mother on three dozen of my finest
Mothering Sunday. roses?’
He asked the proprietor,, ‘You The man hesitated.. ‘No, make
know the expression, ‘Say it it just a half dozen roses. I’m a
with flowers?’. man of few words.’
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