I am pleased to give an outline of the results and activities for the year ended 1 April 2025. Review of Activities and Achievements
Over the past year OST has continued to gain knowledge, review and renew contacts and strengthening a team of like minded individuals with the experience and drive to change the landscape in
Education moving towards a position where it is best placed to promote the changes needed. Aims and Objectives
The Oxford School of Thought was founded by educators as a truly independent Primary Education think tank - the first of its kind in the UK - to advance the public exchange of ideas generated and opinions discussed between experts in their field in the world of education. This will include research and much wider distribution and consumption of material. The intention is to have a positive impact on the way that education is delivered, whether state or independent (private). This report highlights the activities and initiatives undertaken by our organisation in the past year , focusing on the future of primary education. Our mission to drive educational innovation, research, and collaboration has been central to these endeavours. We have engaged with leading experts, partnered with respected institutions, and contributed to key discussions shaping the future of education.
Key Activities and Achievements:
Following the tragic death of Ruth Perry, who was known to several of our number, and the resulting outcry from many quarters in education for significant changes to, if not abolition of, Ofsted, we felt that we could contribute to a positive way forward.
We embarked upon a revolutionary new perspective for inspection, particularly in the Primary sector. We recognised that one of the failings of the current system was that the inspection framework was based on a subject based secondary model of schooling and the revisions being proposed by Ofsted were not addressing this. We issued a preliminary paper outlining our ideas for a separate and distinct model for Primary Schools which we published on 30/9/24.
We wrote to the Secretary of State for Education in October 2024 outlining our ideas and offering a more detailed report to follow.
We recognised the increasing concerns within the educational community about the inadequacies of the current one-size-fits-all inspection framework, which fails to distinguish between the fundamentally different needs of primary and secondary schools. The proposal argues that primary education should be assessed on its own terms, with a focus on fostering creativity, holistic child development, and community engagement.
In March 2025 our report Requires Improvement – a new model of Primary inspection Key elements of the proposed model include:
-
Separate inspection frameworks for primary and secondary schools, reflecting the unique nature of early years and primary education.
-
Focus on child and teacher welfare, professional development, and the school’s role in the community.
-
Action research-based inspections, where inspectors work with schools to evaluate what is effective for their specific context, rather than enforcing uniform standards.
-
Improved mental health and morale among educators by removing the punitive aspects of inspections, encouraging a more collaborative and supportive approach.
-
A balanced system of accountability, with high-performing schools subjected to lighter inspections and struggling schools receiving targeted support.
This publication will serve as a new reference point for ongoing debates and discussions within the educational community.
-
As part of this process we continued our collaboration with Values-Based Education (VBE) and other key stakeholders to critically assess and consider the current position and practices of OFSTED. This collaboration aimed to influence policy and contribute to a more holistic approach to school inspections.
-
In October 2024 we responded to the invitation from the Curriculum and Assessment review panel, recommending our previous paper A Vision For The Future of Primary Education.
-
Throughout the year, we published several newsletters that kept our community informed of
-
our activities, upcoming events, and the latest developments in the education sector.
-
We conducted a series of interviews with school leaders from various educational settings.
-
These interviews provided valuable insights into the challenges and innovations within
-
primary education, informing our future initiatives and reports.
This year has been one of significant progress and impactful initiatives. Our collaborations, research, and events have contributed to the ongoing discourse on the future of primary education. We remain committed to supporting innovation and excellence in education, and we look forward to building on this year’s achievements in the coming years.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all our partners, collaborators, and supporters who have contributed to our work this year. Together, we are making strides towards a brighter future for primary education. Structure, Governance and Management
The Oxford School of Thought is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by its constitution.
Trustees are recruited for their wide experience and skills to contribute to the achievement and advancement of the Charity's objectives
The following Trustees served throughout the year to 1 April 2025: Peter Cansell Alexander Cansell Philip Marples Financial Statements The receipts and payments during the year to 1 April 2025 are shown below. As at 1 April 2025 The Oxford School of Thought had charitable assets of £3672(2024 £4787). These assets comprise restricted and unrestricted funds.
The Trustees Report and financial statements were approved by the board on 30th September 2025. Signed on behalf of the Trustees Peter Cansell Chair of Trustees 30th September 2025 Cranmer House 10 High Street Wheatley Oxford OX33 1XX
Balance Sheet Report launch and administration costs £1115 1 April 2025 1 April 2024 £ £ Unrestricted funds: cash at Bank 3672 4787 . Total Charity Funds 3672 4787 . Signed on behalf of the Trustees Peter Cansell Chair of Trustees 30th September 2025 Cranmer House 10 High Street Wheatley Oxford OX33 1XX