Multiple complaints have been made following Ofsted school inspections in Milton Keynes over the last three years, new figures show.

The data comes as the watchdog last month launched a special consultation seeking the views of parents, school staff and childcare professionals on a range of proposals aimed at improving the inspections.

Meanwile, the National Association of Head Teachers said it has "real concerns" about the way Ofsted's inspection reports are carried out, and warned the new proposals may put a strain on "already overburdened" inspectors.

A freedom of information request by RADAR shows three complaints were sent to Ofsted following school inspections in Milton Keynes between the 2021-22 and 2023-24 academic years, including one last year.

Some schools are not at all hapy about their Ofsted inspections and ratings

placeholder image — Some schools are not at all hapy about their Ofsted inspections and ratings

Of all complaints sent in the last three years, one was partially upheld.

Across England, a total of 1,018 complaints were submitted, with the number of complaints increasing by 60% over the last three years, from 248 in 2021-22.

Nationally, 17 complaints were upheld, while 216 were partially upheld.

However, a teachers' union has criticised the lack of an independent body to investigate Ofsted complaints.

Complaints can be made during or after an inspection to raise concerns about the inspection or its outcomes and are dealt with by the watchdog itself.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, said: "It is simply unacceptable for complaints to be dealt with internally by the very body that is being complained about.

"In fact, there are likely many more schools experiencing problematic inspections than these figures reveal, as school leaders fear they may not be dealt with fairly if they do complain."

Mr Whiteman said the NAHT is calling for the implementation of "a fully independent complaints mechanism to adjudicated inspection complaints", adding the union has "real concerns" regarding the way Ofsted's inspection reports are carried and handled.

"The unequal power relationship between the inspected and the inspector drives a dynamic that is genuinely dangerous to health,” he said.

In December 2023, an inquest found an Ofsted inspection "likely contributed" to the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life in January of the same year after the watchdog published a report downgrading her school from its highest rating to its lowest/

Following this, Ofsted rolled out a series of adjustments to improve its school inspection process, and last month launched a consultation seeking the views of parents, school staff and childcare professionals to reform the school inspection and assessment model from this autumn.

The consultation lays out several proposals such as introducing report cards to parents, focusing on disadvantaged and vulnerable children, and returning to schools where issues were raised to verify action is underway to make improvements.

It also suggests replacing the current 'single word' marking system with a colour-coded five-point grading scale/

An Ofsted spokesperson said: "We want our inspections to raise standards of education for all children. Our new report cards will provide better information for parents and be fairer and more balanced for schools.

"We would encourage everyone to give us their views and respond to the consultation."