Selection of Ofsted curriculum advisory group had “no input” from DfE, says inspectorate

The Department for Education had “no input” in the selection of Ofsted curriculum advisers, the inspectorate has told this website after an investigation by Education Uncovered highlighted particularly extensive overlap between advisory personnel in one subject.

Four of the five external members of Ofsted’s modern languages curriculum group have served on DfE initiatives which seem very closely related to the latest output of the inspectorate’s curriculum work in the subject: a “research review” which takes a controversial line on the teaching of the subject.

I asked Ofsted why there had been such an overlap between those advising Ofsted on the subject, and DfE advisers, but did not receive a response.

The detail 

As Education Uncovered reported last week, Ofsted’s “research review” set out a vision for major changes to the way modern languages should be taught, in a document which contrasts with what the national curriculum states.

Ofsted’s document suggested teachers should not expose pupils to too much “unfamiliar” language on the basis that it might demotivate them. It highlighted “phonics” as one of three central “pillars” of language teaching, alongside vocabulary and grammar, despite phonics not being mentioned in the national curriculum.