03 November 2000
Relations between Woodhead and MPs from the education select committee have been strained since the chief inspector appeared to brush aside their findings on his work during the summer.
Appearing before the committee on November 1, Woodhead was again taken to task by committee chairman Barry Sheerman for his 'style over substance' approach.
'In a number of cases the committee has been shocked about the brevity of your approach and the way you couch your remarks to this committee. It would be interpreted by many as offensive.'
Suggesting the need for a board to oversee the work of the inspectorate to ensure greater accountability, the MPs said they were concerned that Woodhead was, in effect, fireproof.
However, he rejected the idea, saying his twice-yearly appearances before the committee were acceptable to him. As a 'non-ministerial head of a government department and accountable to the prime minister', Woodhead said he was always prepared to do his best to answer the questions of the committee.
During the hearing, which had many heated moments, Woodhead refused to temper his approach to his work: 'People argue that we shouldn't speak plainly and bluntly when things go wrong, but it is important to keep problems out in the open and I will continue with that approach.'
The chief inspector came in for some serious criticism over his response to a Commission for Racial Equality report, which had been published earlier in the year. In the report, the CRE said Ofsted inspectors were failing to tackle racism in schools. However, Woodhead responded to the report in strong language and accused CRE chair Gurbux Singh of 'self-righteous indignation'.
Calling Woodhead to account, the education committee said he had been remiss in his rejection of the report, which had subsequently been endorsed by the National Institute for Education and Research. But Woodhead said the report was based on old information.
PFnov2000
