Chief Inspector of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, has said there has been an increase in legal challenges to its reports. Ms Spielman told MPs that the rise in challenges was mainly coming from private organisations, such as apprenticeship providers, nurseries and children’s homes.
There has been a particular rise in the number of tribunals involving children’s homes but Ofsted have been winning around 96% of the cases. Ms Spielman could not say how much Ofsted was spending on legal fees, and said she would write to the committee with the figure.
Ms Spielman told the Commons Public Accounts Committee that: “If Ofsted issues an unfavourable report, it is understandable if frustrating when the case is very clear that people will throw everything they can at trying to prevent that sticking.”
