Head of academy trust recommended as Ofsted’s new chief inspector

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Working with others, prioritising inclusion, and aiming for the highest standards in all areas have been key principles for Outwood Grange Academies Trust under my leadership and these would remain the case if I am appointed to the Ofsted role Sir Martyn Oliver A Guardian investigation in 2018 found OGAT academies had some of the highest suspension and exclusion rates in England – with 41% of pupils at Outwood Academy Ormesby in Middlesbrough suspended for at least a day in the previous school year. There is widespread support for the scrapping of blunt single-word judgments and we hope that this will now be a priority Geoff Barton, Association of School and College Leaders Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said Ofsted was “in great need of reform” and welcomed Sir Martyn’s commitment to working closely with the whole education sector. “However, we hope that the Government will see sense and make this change, and we would certainly want to work with the next chief inspector on a system to replace graded judgments which works in the best interests of schools, parents and children.” Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said Sir Martyn’s recommendation came at a “critical moment in Ofsted’s history, with there now being widespread acceptance that significant reform to school inspection in England is urgently required”. “Working with others, prioritising inclusion, and aiming for the highest standards in all areas have been key principles for Outwood Grange Academies Trust under my leadership and these would remain the case if I am appointed to the Ofsted role.” Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “Sir Martyn Oliver has demonstrated exemplary leadership and an unwavering commitment to driving up standards in areas of disadvantage in his time as a school and trust leader.