Kerry Boffey of FIN asks if nominee training is about preparing for an Ofsted inspection or should it be doing something much bigger.
Of course, nominees need to understand inspection. They need to understand the framework, know how inspection works, understand what evidence inspectors will explore and be able to help their organisation present its provision clearly and accurately.
But is that enough? At the Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (FIN), through our work with providers across the sector, we think there is a bigger question to ask: Are we training nominees to understand inspection, or are we developing people who can lead and influence quality?
There is a crucial difference. A nominee who understands the inspection framework but cannot influence what happens in their organisation may be well prepared for inspection day, but that does not necessarily mean they are equipped to make a lasting difference to learners.
The strongest nominees need something more. They need to understand what quality actually looks like. They need to understand their learners, their starting points, their experiences and their outcomes. They need to be able to interrogate evidence rather than simply collect it. They need to recognise weaknesses, challenge assumptions and ask tough questions. And they need to influence people because the nominee cannot improve quality alone.
Quality belongs to the whole organisation. That means nominee development should help people understand how to collaborate with governors, senior leaders, managers and staff to create a shared understanding of what needs to improve and why. It means being able to turn evidence into action. It means being able to have the difficult conversation when the data, learner experience or quality indicators are telling you something that people would rather not hear. And it means understanding how to bring people with you.
Read the full article here.
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