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Gove promises top schools 'Ofsted-free future'
12 March 2010
The shadow schools secretary has pledged to end Ofsted inspections for schools which consistently produce outstanding exam results.
Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Michael Gove MP said that under a Conservative government top-performing state schools would be exempt from inspections by the education watchdog unless results began to slide.
Mr Gove said: "We will immediately change the law so that we can set hundreds of good schools free from political interference."
Schools which would qualify for the Ofsted exemption would have a record of having consistently been rated 'outstanding' by the education watchdog in previous inspections, according to the Guardian.
However, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls MP told the newspaper the Ofsted system has already been reformed so that top-rated schools are not inspected as often as those doing less well.
Mr Gove represents the constituency of Surrey Heath and worked as a journalist before entering politics.