Inspection and emotion

Abstract

In this paper I explore the emotional impact of inspection on the staff of a school in the two years between Ofsted1 inspections. Using data from one school undergoing inspection, I argue that the negative emotional impact of inspection of teachers goes beyond the oft‐reported issues of stress and overwork. Teachers experience a loss of power and control, and the sense of being permanently under a disciplinary regime can lead to fear, anger and disaffection. This perhaps calls into question the whole issue of seeking school improvement by way of a system which creates such a negative emotional impact.

Notes

1. Office for Standards in Education, the school inspection service in England.

2. This heralds a move to what Ofsted calls ‘short focused inspections’ about once every three years.

3. This is a pseudonym to protect the school.

4. A benchmark for measurement of poverty.

5. All statistics from the Ofsted report, date withheld.

6. Postgraduate Certificate in Education—teaching qualification for graduates.