Author backing action to cut school red tape

The former teacher and schools inspector has also supported proposals to simplify the Ofsted inspection process so that time is spent examining lessons rather than trawling through test results.

Mr Phinn met with Schools Minister Nick Gibb last week for talks over the coalition Government's new White Paper on education which sets out plans to give teachers greater powers to install discipline and calls for a greater focus on academic subjects such as English, maths, languages, humanities and sciences.

Teachers will receive stronger powers to search students and impose detentions and exclusions, as well as getting clearer rules on the use of force. The Government is also planning to introduce an English Baccalaureate which will be awarded to pupils who achieve at least five good GCSEs which include English, maths, one language, one humanity and one science subject.

Ministers are calling for Ofsted's role to be narrowed to focus on judging schools on four key areas teaching standards, leadership, pupil behaviour and attainment. The White Paper also includes plans for a 2.5bn pupil premium which will mean extra money is given to schools who take on pupils from the most deprived backgrounds.

The policy formed part of the coalition agreement and was a part of both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat election manifestos.

Mr Phinn, who has worked in education for more than 40 years as a teacher, consultant and Ofsted inspector praised the White Paper for promising to raise the status of teaching as a profession and increase the power they have within their own schools.

He said: "One of my main criticisms of successive Governments is with their obsession with educational change.

"With each new Government come reformed curriculums, fresh guidelines, innovations and directives, detailed policy documents and statutory orders.

"Document after document appear over the Dales like the plagues of Egypt and have had a deleterious impact of education. Why cannot teachers be left to teach? When I read through the White Paper, I was cheered to see many of the changes proposed by this Government, set out free of jargon and gobbledegook and which, I feel, are well overdue.

"Particularly re-assuring to read was the commitment of the Government to 'reduce bureaucracy in schools so teachers can get on with teaching."

The White Paper, introduced last week by Education Secretary Michael Gove says: "The Government is committed to cutting away unnecessary duties, processes, guidance and requirements.

"This Government is determined to reduce bureaucracy so that schools can get on with their core business of teaching and learning. We want to put an end to the reams of paperwork and unnecessary burdens piled on to teachers and schools. We're going to place greater trust in professionals to give teachers more freedom to decide how to teach."

Mr Phinn also welcomed the acknowledgement from Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg that teaching standards have improved in this country and "that the current cohort of trainees is one of our best ever."

He said: "I was glad to read that the Government intends to raise the status of teaching as a profession with measures contained in this White Paper to boost teachers' and head teachers' authority. 'Raising the status of teaching requires a significant strengthening of teachers' authority in the classroom,' according to the Prime Minister. This will have a powerful impact." Mr Phinn, whose books about his life as a school inspector in the Yorkshire Dales have sold more than a million copies, also welcomed the proposed reform of Ofsted. He said: "Far too much time and effort is wasted in Ofsted inspections on extraneous matters and on the analysis of statistical data. Statistics only give a partial view of how well a school is performing.

"Inspectors need to be in the classrooms to see teachers teach and observe how children learn not spending all their time poring over SATs results. The new system will focus on the original purpose of school inspections – teaching and learning."

He has also given his backing to the idea of a pupil premium which will see school funding topped up when they teach the poorest pupils and the plans to "simplify an overburdened curriculum."

Mr Phinn added: "It was good to read the Government's commitment to improving the life chances of our poorest and most deprived young people.

"The pupil premium, which lies at the centre of the Government's reform programme, will make available 2.5bn of extra money by 2014-15.

"Generally then, I welcome the White Paper. At its heart is the pledge to give every child the very best education, regardless of his or her background, to give greater support to the less advantaged child and those with special needs, to re-focus the curriculum on core knowledge and content, to reduce bureaucracy in schools so teachers can get on with teaching and to give teachers greater freedom and flexibility in what they do."

Testing 'should be scaled back'

ONE area which Gervaise Phinn wanted to see more from in the Government's White Paper was a pledge to scale back testing in schools.

The Government is launching an independent review of Standard Assessment Tests but plans to continue with the system which sees pupils assessed at both seven and 11 years of age next year.

Mr Phinn said: "I should have liked to have seen in the White Paper the commitment to reduce the amount of testing in schools. We seem to be spending far too much time weighing the pig rather than feeding it.

"Of course children's achievements and progress need to be assessed and their work evaluated but the SATs in particular have had a dire effect in the classroom."