Following yesterday’s national coverage of the comments of the Chair of Ofsted when he referred to the Isle of Wight as a ghetto and claimed it suffered from inbreeding, Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning.
Wilshaw: “He should remain”
After being introduced and saying that he had not spoken to David Hoare about his comment, Michael Wilshaw was asked what he thought David Hoare should do, Michael Wilshaw replied,
“My view is that he should stay in his job. He’s apologised. He’s been big enough to understand he went over the top – that he didn’t use appropriate language – and he’s apologised profusely.
“He’s been a good chair. He’s run the board well and he’s been a good support to Ofsted. He’s passionate about school improvement.
“My view if that he should remain.”
The interviewer responded by posing the following, “If you say he went over the top and didn’t use appropriate language, is he a fit Chair?”
Hoare was ‘not accurate’
Later asked if Hoare was accurate in the things he said about the Isle of Wight, Wilshaw was emphatic,
“No. No. He’s not accurate in the language that he used – in terms of inbreeding and ghetto life.”
IW education: “Standards ARE improving in the Isle of Wight”
Asked if he went over the top, Wilshaw replied,
“He did go over the top and that’s not good. He’s offended good people in the Isle of Wight. People who are doing their very best – teachers and head teachers – to raise standards. Standards ARE improving in the Isle of Wight.”
Have a listen and let us know whether you think David Hoare’s apology was enough for what he said and the ensuing national coverage. The interview starts at about 1:10 in.
