School inspections shake-up goes out to public scrutiny

Public consultation on how school inspections should change from next year has been announced by HMIe, the education inspectorate.

Proposed changes, which include fewer schools being examined and shorter reports being published, will go out to teachers, parents and members of the public from today.

Other prospective changes include giving schools less than the current three weeks' notice of an impending inspection, bringing forward inspections of schools which appear to be failing, and increasing contact with parents during visits.

The move comes after a primary school head Irene Hogg was found dead two years ago; her family said she was devastated at a poor inspection report.

A fatal accident inquiry ruled her death was "inextricably linked" to the school inspection. HMIe claims the reforms have been coming for a long time but the then senior chief inspector of schools Graham Donaldson said he was very aware of the need to alleviate stress.