SCHOOLS in Waltham Forest could be seen with "warts-and-all" by Ofsted inspectors under new education proposals.

The suggested legislation could see head teachers given only 48 hours notice by inspectors wishing to pay their schools a visit.

Ofsted chief David Bell is proposing that schools are seen without being given several weeks notice and "not how they wish to be found".

Mr Bell has suggested that most schools be inspected every three years, rather than every six. But rather than allowing weeks of preparation, he wants to give very short notice - two or three days.

Mr Bell said this would provide a true picture of how a school was really performing.

These shorter, sharper inspections would provide parents with more up-to-date information and save schools up to ten weeks of anxious preparation, he said. The inspections if approved could come around twice as often as at present and would be more tightly focused, take up less school time and a shorter final report would be produced.

John Dunford, leader of the Secondary Heads Association, has "strongly welcomed" the proposals.

However, the head of education at the National Union of Teachers, John Bangs, said he had "some deep concerns" about aspects of the proposals.

He said: "Teachers may feel continuously inspected, rather than having their professional judgement supported and trusted."

And Mr Bangs added there would be "a note of compressed panic" if the notice period was shortened to 48 hours.

Graham Moss, director of school support services for EduAction, said: "I understand that there will be consultation on this issue and look forward to getting more detail on these proposals.

"Clearly, any change to the inspection procedures will need to find the right balance so that it minimises disruption to schools, and yet satisfies teachers and parents that it provides a representative picture of school life."