Education inspectors to visit unannounced

A new clampdown on badlyperforming schools is being unveiled today by Ofsted. Under the new scheme, inspectors will target schools without giving notice.

Currently, up to 10 weeks' notice is given of an Ofsted inspection, enabling schools to get ready by drafting impressive-sounding "policies", giving buildings a lick of paint - and encouraging disruptive pupils to take a holiday.

The education watchdog today claimed widespread support for the proposal, with backing from hundreds of schools. But it was condemned as "terrorism" by the National Union of Teachers.

In a raft of changes published for consultation three months ago, chief inspector David Bell suggested giving most schools "between two and five working days' notice" of an inspection.

He now appears to have raised the stakes significantly.

The proposals, which will come into force next year if approved by Parliament, are meant to give parents a "warts and all" picture of schools.