{"id":247223,"date":"2026-06-04T23:00:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T22:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=247223"},"modified":"2026-06-04T23:08:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T22:08:59","slug":"this-one-might-have-legs-inside-ofsteds-decision-to-inspect-school-that-postponed-mp-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/this-one-might-have-legs-inside-ofsteds-decision-to-inspect-school-that-postponed-mp-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018This one might have legs’: Inside Ofsted’s decision to inspect school that postponed MP visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ofsted boss Martyn Oliver ordered watchdog staff considering inspecting a school that postponed an MP<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s visit to move <\/span>\u201c<\/span>as quickly as you can<\/span>\u201d <\/span>as <\/span>\u201c<\/span>this one might have legs and we need to be in front of it<\/span>\u201d<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oliver faced criticism when he publicly expressed concerns<\/a> about the postponement of Jewish MP Damien Egan<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s visit to Bristol Brunel Academy when he announced inspectors <\/span>would visit the school <\/span>in January.<\/span><\/p>\n

Egan<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s planned <\/span>visit in September <\/span>last year <\/span>was postponed<\/a> following opposition <\/span>from<\/span> local campaigners and National Education Union<\/span> members on the academy<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s staff<\/span> who raised concerns about Egan<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s involvement with the Labour Friends of Israel group. <\/span><\/p>\n

The resulting inspection report<\/a>, with a<\/span> later<\/span> independent investigation<\/a> by the <\/span>academy<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s trust the Cabot Learning Federation<\/a>, exonerated the school. Ofsted found <\/span>\u201c<\/span>no evidence<\/span>\u201d <\/span>of political bias. <\/span><\/p>\n

The independent <\/span>review by Joan McVittie concluded<\/a><\/span>:<\/span> \u201c<\/span>T<\/span>he decision to postpone was based not on the MP<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s religious beliefs or links to Israel<\/span>,<\/span> but on a desire to protect him from potential abuse and harm as a consequence of this<\/span>\u201d<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Freedom of information documents obtained by Schools Week <\/em><\/span>reveal <\/span>the internal Ofsted discussions <\/span>that led to <\/span>the decision to inspec<\/span>t<\/span>, with senior officials flagging media coverage of the incident to each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ofsted told Schools Week<\/em> quick action was needed so it could <\/span>\u201c<\/span>get ahead of any public debate about <\/span>\u2018<\/span>what Ofsted should do<\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The documents also reveal there was no written communication between the Department for Education and Ofsted, despite education secretary Bridget Phillipson <\/span>saying<\/span> at the time <\/span>that <\/span>her officials had been <\/span>\u201c<\/span>in direct contact<\/span>\u201d <\/span>with the watchdog over the matter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inspection notes also reveal Bristol Brunel Academy received more than 800 emails and phone calls from pressure groups in the build-up to Ofsted<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Move<\/span>\u00a0as quickly as you can<\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/h2>\n

On January 15, Oliver announced Ofsted would imminently begin a section 8 ungraded inspection at Bristol Brunel Academy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The watchdog<\/span> told the school the inspection was <\/span>\u201c<\/span>necessary due to potential concerns<\/span>\u201d <\/span>of a lack of political impartiality, and that there was <\/span>\u201c<\/span>considerable public interest<\/span>\u201d<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oliver said in January he was <\/span>\u201c<\/span>concerned to learn that a school may have been intimidated into cancelling a visit from their local MP.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I am troubled by the message this sends to children <\/span>\u2013 <\/span>especially children from the Jewish community. Those of us privileged enough to be working in education have a professional and moral duty to stand against discrimination.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Internal communications seen by Schools Week<\/em> show James McNeillie <\/span>, the <\/span>regional director for the south west and West Midlands<\/span>, <\/span>asked to be informed of any complaints Ofsted received about the school.<\/span><\/p>\n

S<\/span>enior adviser Rory Gribbell <\/span>sent <\/span>a transcript<\/span> to Oliver of<\/span> a Times Radio<\/em> interview with Labour MP Peter Prinsley who condemned the handling of the incident<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two minutes later, Oliver forwarded this to McNeillie and other officials<\/span>, asking <\/span>whether this could trigger an inspection under section 8.<\/span><\/p>\n

McNeillie replied less than an hour later highlighting more press coverage, and asked for <\/span>\u201c<\/span>collective agreement<\/span>\u201d <\/span>to open an inspection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oliver then forwarded more media coverage and said: <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Just on the Cabot Academy, below is a read<\/span>–<\/span>out from media interviews where the minister was asked about this. Move as quickly as you can please <\/span>\u2013 <\/span>this one might have legs and we need to be in front of it.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Schools Week<\/em> also requested all written communication between Ofsted and the DfE, but Ofsted said there was none. <\/span><\/p>\n

Phillipson told the media following the announcement of the inspection: <\/span>\u201c<\/span>What happened to my colleague Damien Egan is shocking and completely unacceptable. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>My department has been in direct contact with Ofsted and I welcome their urgent inspection and look forward to their findings<\/span>.<\/span> I will not rule out further action.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The DfE said it could not confirm whether there was verbal communication between the department and Ofsted on the decision to inspect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Frank Norris, a former senior inspector and Ofsted official, said it was <\/span>\u201c<\/span>not unusual for a senior civil servant at the DfE to convey the [education secretary<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s] view and decision though a phone call. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Usually Ofsted would respond by asking for the instruction to be conveyed in writing. This doesn’t appear to have happened in this instance.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018<\/span>Considerable media and political interest<\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/h2>\n

Inspection notes revealed Ofsted scheduled the visit due to several concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n

It said the watchdog <\/span>needed<\/span> to be <\/span>\u201c<\/span>satisfied<\/span>\u201d <\/span>about the school<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s leadership and governance and curriculum not being influenced by political <\/span>bias.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>There is considerable media and political interest in this case, and an urgent inspection will enable Ofsted to report to parents, the wider community and <\/span>p<\/span>arliament about pupils<\/span>\u2019 <\/span>experiences in the school, and pupils<\/span>\u2019 <\/span>and staff safety,<\/span>\u201d <\/span>inspector notes said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The inspection found <\/span>\u201c<\/span>no evidence<\/span>\u201d <\/span>to substantiate concerns about political <\/span>bias <\/span>at the school. <\/span><\/p>\n

Leaders and trustees demonstrated <\/span>\u201c<\/span>a profound commitment to providing an inclusive learning environment that promotes tolerance and respect for the diversity of modern Britain<\/span>\u201d<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The review by McVittie, a former headteacher and president of the ASCL leaders<\/span>\u2019 <\/span>union, found that based on evidence gathered, neither the trust nor school were antisemitic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Norris said that <\/span>\u201c<\/span>bearing in mind the most recent Ofsted inspection prior to these incidents was in June 2023<\/span>,<\/span> it seems reasonable for Ofsted to revisit<\/span>\u201d<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But he was <\/span>\u201c<\/span>surprised it was necessary<\/span>\u201d <\/span>to deploy five senior inspectors, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>especially as it was clear what the focus of the visit would be<\/span>\u201d<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>It was undertaken when a new framework was being introduced so this may be the Ofsted defence.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018<\/span>Important to make a timely decision<\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/h2>\n

Ofsted told Schools Week<\/em> Oliver <\/span>\u201c<\/span>wanted to make that decision without delay, and get ahead of any public debate about <\/span>\u2018<\/span>what Ofsted should do<\/span>\u2019<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>If we had decided not to take any action, we would have said so and why <\/span>\u2013 <\/span>that<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s why it was important to make a timely decision.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked about the influence of media coverage, the spokesperson said: <\/span>\u201c<\/span>It wasn<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t based on media coverage alone. We were concerned about the potential impact on pupils, and staff. Ofsted has a duty to inspect if there are concerns about standards.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The matter had also been raised at prime minister<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cabot was approached to comment but it declined. Damien Egan<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s office was also approached for comment.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Officials who ordered inspection of a Bristol academy flagged media reports over decision to cancel visit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":315335,"featured_media":247160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"post-theme":[2378],"class_list":["post-247223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","post-theme-ofsted"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t