A TEACHERS' union official from Kent says he is opposed to Ofsted inspectors turning up at schools without warning.

John Walder has criticised Ofsted's plans to introduce "no notice" inspections across England in 2009 as "insulting" to the teaching profession.

Ofsted argues, however, the measure will allow inspectors to evaluate schools better without them being forewarned.

But Mr Walder, secretary of the Kent division of the National Union of Teachers, (NUT), claims the new inspections plan is a continuing example of the Government's mistrust of teachers.

He said: "My own personal view is that this kind of thing can do teaching no good.

"It underlines the feeling there is an atmosphere of mistrust underlying the way in which the Ministry of Education views teaching.

"I don't know exactly what they are going to get out of no-notice inspections, apart from upsetting teachers."

Asked whether he believed the inspections would help drive up standards, he said: "The fundamental question is that I would like to know the evidence on which people base the assumption the activities of Ofsted have driven up standards?

"And if standards are to be driven up, is there not another way?"

Mr Walder, a former languages teacher at the old Technical High School for Boys in Maidstone, now Oakwood Park Grammar, added: "I was involved in a massive programme of curriculum development in modern languages which was simply brushed aside by the Government because they didn't trust teachers.

"And the joke now is that in the last couple of years the Government has come back now and tried to do what we were doing in the 1980s, before they came on the scene.

"It's frustrating. Teachers are professionals and the idea they are constantly backsliding and need these people to come round with sticks to smack their bottoms is insulting.

"We have our own professional pride in improving things. We don't need all this. This notion that teachers can't be trusted is still alive and strong."

A statement released by the NUT, echoed Mr Walder's comments. It said: "There has got to be a balance between no notice and an extended period notice for inspections.

"We do not want to go back to the old days of a lack of trust and respect for teachers."

By no means all people in the teaching profession are totally opposed to the plan.

Nicki Mattin, deputy headteacher of Canterbury High School, would be happy to show an inspector around the school without having had prior warning.

She said: "I would be happy to show the school at any point of time whether it is an inspector or parent but I would want the opportunity to really respond to any of the issues that have come out of our self-evaluation. So, a warning is very helpful."

Ofsted confirmed there will be a pilot project where schools will be confronted with "no-notice" inspections over the coming year but it could not say in advance the names of the schools to be involved.

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: "This will allow inspectors to see schools how they really are without any rehearsals or planning.

"We are also considering representations from parents and pupils whether the inspections should take place."

Kent schools are currently inspected every three years and given between two and five days' notice before inspectors call.