A REGIONAL Ofsted boss has curbed claims that classrooms are being infiltrated by a tick-box culture.

Responding to concerns voiced by several headteachers in Oxfordshire, the regulator insisted school inspectors have pupils' best interests at heart.

The education watchdog's South East director Chris Russell spoke to the Oxford Mail after a report revealed overall standards at the county's schools.

He said: "We don't want schools feeling they have got to 'tick the boxes' for inspections. We are not just ticking boxes when inspecting, we are looking at what schools are doing for pupils and how that's working.

"That [pressure] is last thing in the world we want – we know how busy teachers are.

"We know how hard headteachers and teachers work and we really recognise and appreciate that."

In July the former head of Oxford Spires Academy, Sue Croft, raised concerns that a top-down approach to education was stifling teachers.

Retiring from a 30-year career in schools, she told this paper there were now 'so many people to whom you are accountable'.

Just last month the head of Rose Hill Primary School in Oxford, Sue Vermes, said Ofsted's terminology was 'incredibly unhelpful'.

The school has since turned itself around after being rated 'inadequate' last year, but Mrs Vermes said the label deflated morale.

Mr Russell urged schools not to stress about reports, adding: "Our main message to heads would be to just do what you think is right for the pupils. I've done many inspections, and that shines through.

"The best schools are not thinking or worried about Ofsted, they are making changes to make things better for pupils."

On Wednesday, Ofsted released its annual report for the South East, which broke down statistics for counties across the region.

In Oxfordshire there was an increase in primary schools rated 'good' or 'outstanding' by Ofsted, and a very small decrease in secondary schools awarded the same standard.

Statistics did not include private schools.

Mr Russell said he was pleased with the county's progress, stating: "Across the country there are schools that really have struggled for a long time - for generations of pupils, we've not been able to say 'this is a good school'.

"There are none of those in Oxfordshire. Schools have their challenges but we don't have schools that have struggled over a really long period."

He echoed concerns raised in a separate Ofsted report last week, which noted 'significant concerns' with Oxfordshire County Council's provision for children with special needs.

The authority has pledged to improve but partly blamed poor Government funding for the downfall.

Addressing concerns about underfunding in Oxfordshire, Mr Russell said: "One doesn't want to dismiss financial constraints: money is important.

"But there is not always a direct correlation between funding and quality. It is not the be all and end all."