By Gabriel Princewill-
Ofsted boss, Amanda Spielman, has been called by this publication to sort out some of her irresponsible and incompetent staff at Ofsted’s press office, as a worthwhile task for this year.
Under the leadership of Ms Spielman, a disappointing level of indiscipline was found to exist in Ofsted’s press office, with seeming impunity, after a press officer lacking in due substance displayed a reproachable level of behaviour to cover up what was effectively poor knowledge of a post she was occupying.
Ms Amanda Bowden- Wright not only exhibited an appalling level of incompetence in being unable to answer a simple question asked, she also rudely dropped the call twice when her ineptitude was exposed, revealing what seems to be a culture of professional appointments based on comradship instead of merit in many governmental posts. Judged on two encounters with her on the job, she was absolutely useless!
The imprudent woman was unable to explain Ofsted’s criticism of a school’s strict policy against bad behaviour, and thought it a good idea to display her own terrible behaviour , deeming her unfit for the post. Her behaviour similar to that of a naughty teenager was more alarming because of her arrogant confidence she would escape disciplinary action by a government appointed body whose remit amongst others is to assess the behaviour of school pupils and the disciplinary measures in place in schools where behavioural standards are below par.
Ms Bowden Wright’s appointment is among others to be probed by this publication for the legitimacy and suitability of so-called professionals believed to be placed in official positions to fill in gaps and look the part, whilst lacking the real mettle to handle the challenges of the job.
Inefficient And Lousy
What emerged from our painstaking assessment of Ofsted was that its complaint procedure for misconduct -meant to be above board- is inefficient and unsuitable for complaints outside of schools, after this publication caught officials of the press officer last year displaying the stated disgraceful level of ineptitude and lack of accountability in the face of bad conduct.
Ofsted’s press office was given many months by this publication to address its lousy complaints process, after its so-called senior press officer, Amanda Bowden Wright, brought the office to disrepute and a complaints procedure for parties outside the conventional framework set for schools was found to be missing. Calls for an immediate internal investigation of her poor behaviour through a forwarded complaint was not giving due weight; the thought that this is a body established to regulate the quality of schools was laughable in due context.
Appalling
It was the second time this seemingly unfit lady who is demonstrably poor at answering basic questions has behaved so ineptly, yet boasts the unworthy title of a senior press officer which she hardly merits in our humble estimation. Earlier in 2021, Ms Wright exhibited a similar level of impudence when contacted about a press inquiry.
Ms Wright is among a few others who hold a post they cannot always defend when push comes to shove. Most disappointing was the arrogant display of invincibility this big headed woman displayed, whilst lacking the professional substance to address a question about a critical Ofsted report in relation to a North London school -Harris Academy- doing its best to root out indiscipline among some of its wayward pupils.
The English literature graduate appears to struggle to answer simple questions, or at least show the intelligence she purports to have by seeking an appropriate response or providing a smart reason why she doesn’t have the response.
Successfully passing literature exams and speaking eloquently is not quite the same as being able to efficiently deal with the press at all levels. With us, she failed woefully, and joins the likes of Jenny Birt from the judicial press office, and Holly Nesbitt from Hello Magazine, both of whom also folded when asked questions alongside jobs for which they are paid, and dropped the phone, lacking the foresight to avoid the shameful tarnish to their character such rudeness could evoke.
An insider at Ofsted anonymously said of Ms Wright: ” it is embarrassing that someone working in this department would behave so badly, she must have had a bad day. She may have felt under pressure and handle the moment badly, I would like to think it was a one -off.
Wright, an impressively well-spoken lady in her thirties, represents an inspectorate whose remit amongst other things is behaviour, yet was very badly behaved herself, displaying a deplorable level of arrogance,
Behaviour is a very important issue when dealing with schools in the Uk, and was ironically central to an inquiry by this publication when Ms Wright showed the stinking side of her character. Bad behaviour in adults usually starts from young age in school
Serious Issue
This publication was examining a serious issue at the Harris Academy Tottenham school , after a former member of their staff set up a petition calling for the principle to resign due to a stringent zero tolerance policy against bad behaviour.
The teacher-Joshua Adesui- claimed the school’s zero tolerance disproportionately affected BAME and SEND students. Mr Adesui further accused the school of institutional racism- a serious charge – which we decided to examine.
Mr Adesui was contacted by this publication and asked if he had any evidence of white pupils who had escaped expulsion after behaving in a manner comparable with that of black students who were expelled. No requirement was made of the 27-year-old PE teacher to name any pupils, but rather for him to categorically state some facts to support his claim.
The question presented to the eventually axed teacher was not designed to undermine his claim , but to seek independent corroboration of his allegation.
Axed PE teacher; Mr. James Adesui Image:change.org.uk
Intuitively, an allegation that a stringent policy is disproportionately affecting a particular group needed to be substantiated for any degree of credibility.
In the absence of some characterization of similar or comparable misconduct met with totally different consequences, such a far-reaching claim could easily be unfounded. Unsurprisingly, no response was forthcoming .
A review of the school’s Ofsted report over the past few years was generally good, with the exception of last year in which Ofsted notably criticised the school’s zero tolerance policy as being too strict.
Like the disgruntled sacked teacher of Harris Academy, the grounds for the criticism of the school’s policy by Ofsted was left in the air unstated. The Ofsted report had failed to elaborate or validate its judgement,
A competent regulatory body criticizing a school’s policy as too strict is expected better in validating its conclusion, not just arbitrarily make judgements without establishing its foundation .
Had Ofsted said that suspensions or expulsions had not been warranted by the conduct of those pupils found at the receiving end of the school’s zero tolerance policy, that would have been clear enough.
Basis
Ofsted’s Press office was called to inquire of the basis of a particular report critical of the school’s zero tolerance policy, but an arrogant Ms Wright approached the matter like an immature and unprofessional child.
”you can send an email , but there is no guarantee your question will be answered, she said”. My natural response was ”what’s the point sending an email if I may not get a response”? She responded ” I’m working from home, I am going to end the call”.
If you end the call, I’ll put in a complaint. ”That’s fine she said”, and she dropped the call.
Ms Bowden Wright obviously confident that her boss would defend her as is the case in most organizations where proper disciplinary procedures are lax, and integrity of the highest level can be superficial.
The implication was given was that she can act with impunity because of her title ads senior press office, even though the basis of her seniority in the post is hardly evident from her performance.
As a senior press officer, Ms Wright ought to be abreast with all serious news in the press in relation to schools and be aware of Ofsted’s latest report in relation to such schools.
In the event that she is not abreast with such information, she ought to be able to obtain the information as speedily as possible, instead of displaying such ineptitude by evading the question, then displaying a lack of foresight by dropping the phone and expecting her misconduct to be inconsequential.
Training/Expertise
Many press officers lack adequate training and expertise to cope with journalists who ask questions they are unable to answer. Yet, they have the effrontery to think they are so highly exalted to act as they please.
Earlier in the year, we exposed Hello Magazine’s press officer, Lauren Hulligan, for rudely dropping the phone when she couldn’t answer a question she was asked about an article published in her magazine in relation to the royal feud.
And a month earlier, Norfolk editor was exposed for dropping the phone on our female colleague when probed about an incident about which Ipso had cleared one of his reporters over inaccurate reporting.
In 2019 Diane Abbott’s press officer dropped the phone on a member of our team when when probed to explain the grounds of the Mps complain of racism during question time.
The Mp had a college student handling press calls and even though a more senior press officers took over the call, she folded at the question, and dropped the phone. Ofcourse, we flogged her for it.
Press officers far too often disgrace their roles, are often incompetent, often acting as a figure head for those they represent instead of demonstrating the requisite skill for their posts.
Apart from those who know what they are doing, working in the press office may just be a glorified post for many of those who got that post through contacts than they did through merit.