15 February 2002
The education and skills select committee, which often clashed with Woodhead, this week praised Tomlinson's new regime as 'a clear change for the better'. Committee chair Barry Sheerman said: 'The atmosphere in the school teaching profession generally has much improved.'
As if to forestall possible accusations of favouritism, Sheerman described the committee's relationship with Tomlinson – who is himself due to step down on April 30 – as 'healthy, but not cosy.'
The committee's report, The work of Ofsted, published on February 14, concludes that there is no need for a royal commission on Ofsted. But the MPs 'would welcome stringent external evaluation of the soundness of Ofsted's methods'.
They are 'concerned that teachers find Ofsted inspections overly stressful' and 'urge head teachers and governing bodies to keep a sense of proportion when preparing for inspection, to avoid unnecessary stress.'
PFfeb2002
