Ofsted has been slammed as a “blight” on the educational community after a damning report found it was seen as “not fit for purpose”.

The Beyond Ofsted enquiry, which was funded by the National Education Union, called for “transformational change” in the way the regulators operate, with teachers having lost faith in the system.

In the wake of the enquiry’s findings, educators have spoken out about their experiences with the non-ministerial department.

Among them is Steve Chalke, the head of Oasis Community Learning, an organisation that runs 54 schools in the UK. Speaking to Express.co.uk, Mr Chalke claimed that the “Ofsted approach” had “traumatised” some “wonderful, dedicated, frontline teaching staff”.

The educator, who is also a Baptist minister, social activist and author of A Manifesto for Hope, said Ofsted inspections are often “variable and inconsistent”, and deliver subjective judgements.

READ MORE: Ofsted has lost teachers’ trust, according to new inquiry

He added that he believed the organisation has contributed to a “culture of fear” developing within the teaching profession.

Mr Chalke said: “There is often a total lack of understanding or interest in the contextual factors that can have such an enormous impact on schools.

“And the naming and shaming Ofsted approach can blight not only teaching careers but whole communities. The one-word Ofsted description of schools is outdated and simplistic, no longer fit for purpose.

“It fails to support those schools developing an inclusive education, for rewards those schools who game the system, often by pushing out the most ‘difficult’ children so they become another schools’ ‘problem’.

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“Rather than acting as a boost for schools, a culture of fear has developed – particularly astonishing when you consider that people entering the teaching profession are doing so as a public service, wishing to teach and support children to succeed.”

Mr Chalke said the tragic death of Ruth Perry, a headteacher who took her own life while awaiting the publication of a negative’s Ofsted report, was the “most heartbreaking consequence of a system that is inadequate”.

He added: “It is now no longer the case of ‘if’ Ofsted will be reformed, but when. Until then its simplistic judgements will continue to ring hollow and serve children and parents badly.

“A more sophisticated, thoughtful, and developmental regulator that ditches the current master/servant attitude, and which works in partnership with teachers, families, and communities, cannot come soon enough.”

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An Ofsted spokesperson said: “Children only get one chance at education, and inspection helps make sure that education standards are high for all children.

“The current inspection system was developed after extensive consultation with the education sector and parents.

“We always want inspections to be a constructive experience for school staff. Our inspectors are all former or current school leaders and well understand the nature and pressures of the work.

“After every inspection we ask schools whether they believe the inspection will help them improve. Nine out of 10 say it will.”

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