Fit for purpose? If that purpose is to create stress and encourage teachers to leave the profession – then yes.
Any former teacher could walk into a school and wander around visiting the library, the lunch hall and past classrooms to get a good impression of the quality of the education being offered. The scoring of lessons is pointless – I was told I had to follow a set formulae for the lesson – those who followed it to the letter scored highest, regardless of the participation of students. Fortunately all the OFSTED Inspectors who visited me were happy. I had a tutor group where some unsavory students decided to make the newletter handed out into paper airplanes (bastards) whilst I was being observedm but the inspector looked me out at the end of the day to congatulate me on my work as a tutor.
Results from our ridiculous testing system will reveal problems areas, as would the SMT if the result was a positive initiative of suggests for improvement. Education and teaching is not a factory production line where e.g. foodstuffs need 100% compliance. teachers need to have different styles and personalities – students should have likes and dislikes – it is part of the learning situation, for life in the big wide world. Most jobs and other situations require us to cope with a wide range of situatios and personalities. Most M.P.s seem to have a large number of off days. Teachers can produce wonderful lesson plans that fall apart rapidly due to the changing circumstances of their clientele.
So back to OFSTED. They come in and judge careers on a 30 minute or longer sample chosen at random. Questionnaires are sent to parents (guess the type of parent who responds) rather than inviting some in, who would then need to substantiate their criticisms or compliments with some evidence. OFSTED shoukd be seen as a positive organisation that can be called in to help and advise when there is a problem. Why waste tax payers money visiting schools that are doing nicely (parents know which ones these are) – better to put the money and resources into helping those in need. Oh fuck – is that too WOKE?