Insect hotel

I was in school for 7.45am this morning to be interviewed as a member of the governing body as part of the Ofsted visit. We finished the interview in time to observe the impact of the eclipse but could not see it as there was a thick layer of cloud overhead.

I was due back at the school to hear the judgement at 4.30pm, but inbetween times we were able to go to the gym, enjoy a cup of coffee and visit the garden centre to pick up some new fence panels and fence preservative. In the event there were no panels in stock so we had to made do with just the preservative. And, of course, this shot of an insect hotel lit by the welcome arrival of some late afternoon sunshine. Bit late to buy one of these now as they need to be put up in the autumn for overwintering creepy crawlies.

Back at school we were due to meet the inspector at 4.30, we finally were invited in at 6.00pm having waited for two hours. Confidentiality rules prevent me from disclosing the outcome until the final report is published but this is unlikely to happen until after the Easter break. What I can say is only echo and add my support and the support of the governing body of the school for a radical reform of the Ofsted regime.

The effect that this organisation has on people's lives and livelihoods is immoral. If only those watchdogs that supposedly look after the public interest in the private sector were so dogged, determined and beyond influence then the service from water, energy, communications and other essential utilities would be more in tune with our needs rather than the need to satisfy shareholders.