Grading Observations - What factors do tutors take into account when deciding whether a trainee’s teaching is ‘outstanding’?

In inspections for the Learning and Skills Sector (LSS) carried out by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED) there is a strong emphasis on the quality of trainees’ practical teaching as evidence of the effectiveness of initial teacher education provision.
In the current inspection round, OfSTED uses criteria for key aspects of trainees’ performance in lessons, based on four grades: outstanding, good, satisfactory and inadequate. For HEI partnerships offering the Certificate in Education/PGCE in Post Compulsory Education and Training, this is the first time the overall grading of trainees has become a formal part of inspection. A major issue for providers to address is how to ensure consistency of judgements across the partnership, including what constitutes ‘outstanding’ teaching in the formal learning environment.
This workshop is based on the findings of a research study funded by the Huddersfield PCET Consortium and HUDCETT. This study considers the factors that tutors take into account during observed teaching when deciding if a trainee teacher is ‘outstanding’.