Ofsted’s Regional Director for the South East has given a written acknowledgement to an Isle of Wight Councillor that it knows that “if Ofsted is to be a force for good it must engage well with those on the island who are making the changes needed [to improve our schools] and that recent events have undermined this relationship”.
The letter to Councillor Chris Whitehouse (Newport West Ward), the Conservative Group’s Education Spokesman, gives assurances that “senior Ofsted colleagues will do all we can to remedy the situation rapidly, seeking to build on positive relationships with those groups” and gives a commitment that “we will also ensure that our public announcements concerning the island are fair and balanced”.
Cllr Chris Whitehouse says:
“I am pleased to have received these written assurances from Ofsted and, in particular, their acknowledgement that my only interest in approaching them about the inbred ghetto comments made by their former Chairman, David Hoare, is in ensuring that education on the Island is of the highest quality.
“This whole affair has been a distraction of attention and a diversion of resources from our work to drive up education standards in our Island schools; and I take this opportunity to salute the professionalism of our teachers and senior leadership teams who, despite the unfounded slurs against them and their students, have stuck to achieving our shared mission of the best outcomes for every student, every day. Long may this work continue.”
