New free schools to escape any inspection for 2 years

Ofsted said the schools will be visited earlier only if concerns are raised about their performance.

One teachers’ union said the move was “odd” and said it would make sense for Ofsted to check newly established schools.

The move was revealed as Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw told a conference in central London today that the inspectorate was planning to scrap monitoring visits for newly opened academies.

Under the current system, schools – usually those rated outstanding or good – which “convert” to become academies, or academies that take over failing schools, receive a “section 8 visit” a few months after opening to check on their progress.

Sir Michael told the Independent Academies Association these will stop. Instead, the academies will receive a full inspection when it is due, based on the performance of their predecessor school.

He told delegates: “Academies are becoming a larger and larger part of the school system, and it’s important we have a consistent approach to inspection for all schools.

“So from September, my intention is that newly opened and converting academies will not have section 8 monitoring visits, unless of course the previous school was in special measures.

“Although converting academies are new schools, it’s right to take into account the history of the predecessor school when we are deciding when to inspect next.”

It later emerged that this change will also apply to free schools, set up by groups including parents, teachers, charities and other organisations,.

An Ofsted spokesman confirmed that from September: “There will be no monitoring visits to free schools unless HMCI has specific concerns. They will receive a full section five inspection around two years after opening.”

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), said: “It is odd that Ofsted would wish to step up inspections to schools judged as outstanding but are quite happy for a new free school to operate with no inspection at all for at least two years.

“It would surely make more sense for Ofsted to use what resources they have to check on newly established schools with no previous track record and no support or help from the local authority.

“Yet again Ofsted appears to be reinforcing the political agenda of the present Government rather than maintaining an independent and balanced view of their role.”