Come and see what we're doing

Bank inspectors can rudely turn up on the doorstep without any prior notification. This is done deliberately so they can see the bank as it really is and make an accurate assessment of its strengths and faults.
 
You wouldn’t except it otherwise would you?
 
Local schools however get at least three weeks notification of any forthcoming inspections. Now, why is this? Does anyone expect these inspectors to see the schools as they really are?
 
Of course not.
 
Those three weeks are spent primping and polishing and doing everything possible to show the school in its best light. Even those who usually only pay lip service knuckle down and play by the rules.
 
I suspect this notice period comes from a more civilised era when it just wasn’t polite to turn up unannounced. There again, maybe it suits certain agendas if schools aren’t inspected at the drop of a hat. 

These faint hearted inspectors might just come across things which are better left unseen and unreported.
 
At least that seems to be the fear of a department which doesn’t like to trust the very people it employs and would prefer that nobody looks too closely.
 
Maybe it’s because this very same department hasn’t had a proper inspection of it’s own performance for some time.
 
You’d have thought that after the fiasco which led to some sideways shuffling and fresh hands on the wheel there would have been calls for an early inspection to assess the real state of play. 

However, such things must still be impolite. It’s just not right to kick a chap when he’s down, and anyway, a gentleman does’t wash his dirty linen in public.
 
The problem remains however that many people just aren’t convinced that much has changed within the walls of the citadel. 

Rumours persist of all sorts of odd things happening such as ex-teachers with office jobs still getting school holidays and teachers pay. This is of course a department which thinks it knows everything and still has it’s own sub department to advise building professionals on how to build schools.
 
It all comes down to the fact that we have a broken system.
 
Who’s in overall charge?
 
The Chief Minister?
 
Whoever that is who’s laughing at the back can stop right now please.
 
The Policy Committee?
 
I said stop it now!
 
The Deputies?
 
Ok, even I can see the joke but please do stop giggling.
 
Well, it would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.
 
Nobody does anything because it might be their turn next to go under the microscope and every single department has something they’d rather keep to themselves.
 
So instead of making efficiencies and pruning some of these empires, our lords and masters prefer to cut services and close schools.
 
Maybe rationalisation is the way to go, but it rankles to be told to go on a diet by a department which can’t see it’s own toes.