Government-appointed inspectors delivered their verdict on the country's primary schools this week. And Ofsted - the Office for Standards in Education - published a glowing report, praising an improvement in the quality of education. But what impact does their work have on local schools - and what do inspectors actually do?

Reporter VIVIEN KANDEL found out.

ONE set of footsteps are sure to keep teachers and pupils on their toes -

they belong to school inspectors.

Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, was set up by the government in 1992 to monitor the quality of Britain's schools.

A team of independent inspectors are at the ready to see what schools do well - and what they don't.

They investigate how pupils are developing, the quality of education, how finances are managed and how the school has fared since their last visit.

No stone is left unturned - and after the inspection is over, a report is produced to show exactly how a school is doing.

But does it? After all most schools have two terms' notice to prepare for the big visit, two terms to get it right. Everyone is on their best behaviour - frightened to put a foot wrong.

Doreen Melville-Riddell, from Ofsted, said the system was the right way to monitor standards. She disagrees that schools have enough time to be on their best behaviour.

"That's ridiculous. If that was the case why are three per cent of schools failing and why do another 10 per cent have serious failures?

"Parents really value these reports. They want to know how the school is doing - research proves it.

"These reports are a real pointer to how the school is performing in many different areas," she added.

The reports might paint an accurate picture, but at what price? How do schools prepare for inspections and what kind of pressures do they face?

One Mid Cheshire primary head lifted the lid off problems with Ofsted.

"Schools get so upset by these inspections," he said. "Life is thrown into turmoil.

"It's wearing on the nerves in every way and is not conducive to normal everyday life at school.

"If you have two terms' notice that an inspector is coming, for two terms people are frantically busy preparing policies, looking at every aspect of school life - and aspects that don't really need to be looked at at all. People get so worried and worn out by it.

"It's also a great worry for teachers knowing that someone is going to be sitting in on their class."

Inspections are carried out according to a rigid framework which aims to address four key issues:

the quality of education provided by schools

the educational standards achieved in schools

the way in which financial resources are managed

the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils.

The government's overall aim is to raise standards of achievement and quality of education through regular, independent inspections, public reporting and informed independent advice.

Inspectors spend much of their time watching teachers at work, talking to staff and pupils and looking carefully at schoolwork.

They also go to assemblies, watch pupils at play and attend meetings.

Once the school has the full report, the governors, head and senior staff must decide how to improve on any weaknesses.

But surely teachers are under enough stress already - trying to educate youngsters in the best way possible.

"I think every head teacher would put hand on heart and say inspection is important," said the head, who wants to remain anonymous. "Everyone accepts it has to be done but too often it has been Ofsted waving the massive black stick.

"It's a great stress for the school. People are frightened to do anything wrong because people are going to look at these reports and judge them."

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