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Ofsted, leaky classrooms, mobile rules

14 January 2025

Hey Tappsters!

January and the gyms are packed, the roads are full of runners…it must be the New Year push to try and begin the year with healthier habits!

One lucky Teacher Tapper will get a jump start, as the winner for our new prize draw can pick between either an Apple Watch Series 10 OR a Garmin Venu 3.

Taking part is easy! All you need to do is tap! Read more about the details of the comp and see the full terms and conditions here.

We’ll share the winning ticket codes on our socials, and email the winners too.


Now, onto the findings!

Ofsted changes

When schools returned in September it was to the news that single-word judgements from Ofsted had been scrapped, and on the way was a new judgement system.

What that system looks like is as yet to be shared. However, in November last year, newspapers carried headlines about ’10 point scorecards as news leaked about the details of the planned reform.

How popular is the idea of multiple-point scorecards? Secondary teachers favour the scorecards more than their primary colleagues, both at the ‘support’ and ‘oppose’ ends of the scale. More secondary than primary ‘strongly support’ the scorecards (21% vs 14%). And more primary than secondary ‘strongly oppose’ the scorecards (8% vs 4%).

Opinions do not greatly differ between teachers in schools that have been previously graded ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’ or ‘Requires Improvement’ (using the old-style single word judgements).

However, there also appears to be reticence towards the scorecards among senior leaders: 10% of senior leaders, including headteachers, ‘strongly oppose’ the change away from single-word judgements, compared to 5% of middle leaders and classroom teachers.

Reports on Ofsted term one

Since inspections resumed in September, how have teachers felt about the process?

Just over 1,000 teachers have had a visit from Ofsted which they were involved in, and of those…

⬆️ 53% found the experience positive.

↔️ 34% thought the experience to be neutral.

⬇️ Just 12% felt it was negative.

However – these experiences do change when we account for the last Ofsted judgement made about the school. Teachers in schools previously graded ‘Outstanding’ were more likely to say it was positive when compared to teachers in ‘Good’ schools (68% vs 48%) and in ‘Requires Improvement’ schools (68% vs 52%).

Interested in hearing more about views on Ofsted? We have a Teacher Tapp special blog digging into the key questions…

Leaky classrooms

Now, from school inspections to building inspections!

When the ‘crumbly concrete’ in school buildings became a crisis in 2023, those who work in schools were not surprised: many schools have been waiting for rebuilds for years.

Of course, when a building is about to fall down, that’s an emergency – but how about the number of schools where things are just dire, rather than dangerous?

Every region has reported MORE buckets in corridors or classrooms to catch leaks – but it is the North East and Yorkshire where 27% of classrooms have a bucket to catch the leaks, up from 18% in 2022.

Across ALL regions, in 2022, 17% of classrooms had buckets to catch leaks, but today, that has risen to 22%.

Teachers’ top complaints about school buildings

Teachers are well-placed to speak to the failings of the buildings – after all, they are the ones who use them day-in-day-out and see where the improvements are needed most urgently.

The top complaints from teachers about school buildings

  1. Heating and Temperature Control

“The heating system is not good enough. Some classrooms were 9 degrees last week, while others were so hot we had to open windows even though it was -3°C outside!”

  • The most commonly mentioned concern is the inconsistency in heating, with classrooms often being too hot in the summer and freezing during the winter months.
  • Many staff share their frustration with centrally controlled systems or inefficient heating setups, emphasising how much better localised temperature controls could make things.
  • Air conditioning also comes up a lot, especially as a must-have for keeping classrooms comfortable during the hotter months.

2. Space and Layout Issues

“Our corridors are so narrow that lesson changeovers feel dangerous, and some classrooms are so cramped I can’t move around to interact with all students.”

  • The shortage of sufficient classrooms and breakout spaces is a common concern.
  • Overcrowded corridors and a lack of communal spaces for both students and staff come up frequently.
  • Many teachers highlight the need for improved building designs that better accommodate modern educational needs.

3. Structural and Maintenance Problems

“There is no point putting up displays in my room because the roof leaks so badly it ruins everything. I once arrived to find half the room underwater.”

  • Leaking roofs, draughty or broken windows, and the need for asbestos removal are among the top concerns.
  • Problems included: poor insulation, damp walls, and flooding.

4. Facilities for Students and Staff

“We share a single toilet with students, which is next to the staffroom. The smell and lack of privacy are unbearable.”

  • There’s a strong demand for more toilets, catering to both students and staff, along with better-equipped staff room toilets.
  • Lots of replies said they lacked dedicated facilities for specialised education needs (SEN) and places where interventions could be run.

Mobile phones for staff

Moving away from the school building itself, to the rules for those inside it…staff mobile phones.

Mobile phones in the classroom have hit the headlines when it comes to students but how free are teachers to use their mobiles when they’re at school?

When asked to imagine a rule change which saw staff mobiles locked away during the school day, the majority of teachers would NOT be smiling through the announcement.

Among teachers in schools where this rule is not already in place, 63% predicted they would feel ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ unhappy with the change. Just 11% would feel ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ happy. The rest were in the middle – feeling neither happy nor unhappy.

Over on Bluesky (where you can follow TeacherTapp) teachers were discussing various drawbacks to introducing a mobile-ban. Objections to the ban included the difficulties faced when trying to manage 2-factor authentication, the need to be contactable, and teachers who use personal mobiles for work purposes.

🎩 Top events

This week’s Top Event is Wellbeing In The Classroom: Ideas For Children’s Mental Health Week from Kapow Primary.

Have you used our events feature and enjoyed the CPD you received? Let us know how it went by emailing england@teachertapp.co.uk. Remember, the app offers a wide range of in-person and online events! Visit the Events page to find something for everyone.

Daily Reads

This week our most-read blog looked at what makes a successful staffroom.

Have you seen a great blog you think would make a great daily read? Let us know by emailing england@teachertapp.co.uk and we will check it out!