UCLan 3rd in the North West for student positivity

THE University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is 3rd in the Northwest and 34th in the UK for its student positivity score according to the National Student Survey 2023.  The University gained an overall positivity score of 81.0% compared to the average of 79.9% across the sector. UCLan was also highly rated by its students on detailed questions about their courses, scoring especially strongly on :-'assessment and feedback' with 81.4%, making the University in 25th place for this question compared to other providers. The results of the National Student Survey provide feedback from final year students across the sector on their higher education experience. The results also mean the institution is above the higher education sector average in 7 of the 10 key areas including learning opportunities, student voice, and assessment and feedback. These 3 areas are critical to enhancing the student experience.

Vice Chancellor Graham Baldwin said:- "I'm absolutely delighted with our results. We have seen good scores across the board especially in assessment and feedback which is vital in helping students to achieve. Getting this positive endorsement from our students of the hard work we have put into making improvements, is the ultimate accolade. Students and their experience are at the heart of everything we do, and we will continue to act on feedback to ensure we continuously improve. Thanks to our student community who took thew time to share their views and to our staff who dedicate themselves to transforming people's lives through learning."

For students waiting on their A-Level results and still considering their options, UCLan has a number of excellent courses available in Clearing. More information about Clearing and how to contact UCLan is available on the University's website.

'INADEQUATE' – Parents' judgement of School inspections in England

IN the 1st independent poll of its kind since the unfortunate passing of Headteacher Ruth Perry, national charity Parentkind has endeavoured to understand how parents, often cited as the main audience of Ofsted's reports, feel about the role of Ofsted and the performance of School inspections in England.  Parentkind's report gives a detailed view of what parents really think about Ofsted, the School's inspectorate for England. Parents identified that whilst they value regular School inspections, the current system is clearly failing to deliver what they need as parents. Parental views of the School inspection framework in England play a significant role in informing the outcomes of the:- 'Beyond Ofsted Inquiry,' chaired by former Schools minister Lord Jim Knight.

Essential findings include:-

• 62% of parents value having an inspection body assessing how well their child's School is performing, versus 26% who disagree.
   

• Despite that, 24% agree that reports are useful to them as parents, where 59% disagree. Similar proportions (25% versus 61%) agree and disagree that reports help them to understand a School's strengths and weaknesses.
   

• Only 16% are satisfied by the single overall grade inspection model (which designates Schools as:- 'outstanding,' 'good,' 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate'), compared to 72% who are dissatisfied. Almost half (49%) indicated they are 'very dissatisfied').
   

• 39% don't look at Ofsted reports at all when choosing a School for their child, compared to 38% who do. An additional 17% look at the overall grade without reading the rest of the report.
   

• Only 17% of parents agree that Ofsted reports tell them the most important things they need to know about a School's performance, against 71% who disagree.
   

• 70% of parents support the idea that Schools should be inspected twice before a report is published, giving them a chance to resolve issues identified during an initial inspection. Less than 15% disagree with this approach.
   

• This stark judgement of Ofsted comes despite the fact that most parents (86%) agree that it's important for parents to be informed about School inspections and have the opportunity to give their views.

Parents take safeguarding seriously and most wish to see more regular inspections on these issues. Yet 78% of parents agree that safeguarding should be inspected separately and not form part of a School's overall rating, with Schools failing on safeguarding required to resolve issues within a fixed time period. Only 25% of parents agree with the current approach that can lead to otherwise well run Schools being rated:- 'inadequate' over a safeguarding concern, even though they will now be re-inspected within 3 months.

Lord Jim Knight, Chair of the Beyond Ofsted inquiry, said:- "I am very grateful to Parentkind for this insightful survey. In Ofsted's own terms they appear to view our School inspection system as inadequate. However, such a single word judgement would hide many important findings. Parents value inspection for its insights into their child's School, but want better, especially on safeguarding. The Beyond Ofsted inquiry will reflect on all the findings as we come to our conclusions."

Reflecting on the findings, Parentkind's Chief Executive Jason Elsom says:- "Many parents would have previously received the results of their children's School inspection without fully understanding what occurred during the inspection, or what the results really meant for their child. Some might consider moving their child to another School, or not choosing a particular School for their child, whilst in some circumstances, a negative report might lead to a deterioration in the relationship between School and home. So we should ask: what is the purpose of publicly publishing the results of a School inspection, without the information or support to help parents decide whether or not they need to take life changing action of moving their child to another School? It's very probable that the School inspection system we have encourages those who have the agency to move their child to, or even their home to the catchment area of an:- 'Outstanding' School, and that this leads to the compounding of issues within Schools deemed to be performing less well. Most significantly, and I have seen this happen during my teaching career, this can be to the detriment of those children whose parents lack the capaCity afforded to wealthier or more mobile of parents. It could be said that the current School inspection system leads to immeasurable damage for poorer families and the life-chances of children born into disadvantage, and more broadly to significant social cost. Parents are demonstrably aware of the negative impact of inspections on School staff, and the considerable distress caused by any grade less than 'good.' When asked to comment freely, more parents said that Ofsted inspections should be collaborative or supportive, or that the system needs overhauling, than anything else. The evidence clearly shows that parents want a School inspectorate system holding Schools to account, but they want it adapted to better suit their needs and to be more supportive of Schools and their staff. Policymakers can see this reflected in the research we have undertaken, and Parentkind will continue to present parents' views on Ofsted to the Beyond Ofsted inquiry and to education decision-makers more widely."