Dear @Ofstednews ...

... I listened when you told us how to teach outstanding lessons, even graded teachers accordingly, you trained me how to do this

.. my MSc dissertation explored How might inspection improve teaching?

So it was a relief to work with your new 2019 framework and focus on the curriculum instead, and I listened when you told us be broad and balanced and absorbed those slides on working memory..

...happily achieving a strong good in December 2019.

I patiently awaited your call during this term of pandemic and personal and professional crises for teachers, students and families.

I deleted all my blogs and tweets about Ofsted when @amanda_spielman blamed unhappy headteacher blogs for teacher morale crisis. Though mine aimed to academic not grumpy, and reflected years of research.

I listen and respect your work as a regulator. BUT when the DfE and Public Health England speak to me on the phone and confirm that as headteacher, I know my school best and respect my decisions on who should and should not be in school...

.... I find it terrifying that @amanda_spielman should take the position that she might know better, and am concerned for other leaders who might not be as confident, or as well graded, who might now feel threatened into having students in school ...

...when for staff safety, student safety, family safety, public health safety, they really shouldn’t. These are decisions school leaders should never have had to make. But here we are - November 2020. Terrible times. Let us lead our communities through this.

Thank you.