Ofsted has outlined radical new proposals that could mean up to 60 per cent of England's schools may no longer be subject to full inspections.

Speaking to a selection of the UK's head teachers, chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw addressed concerns about the current Ofsted regime head on.

A number of think tanks have recently responded to calls from the watchdog to suggest ways in which its service could be improved and now the regulator itself has hinted full inspections would be reserved solely for struggling schools, or those that are on the verge of being rated "outstanding".

One of the issues highlighted by the think tank studies was a use of outsourced inspectors and Sir Michael used his speech to the Association of School and College Leaders' (ASCL) annual conference in Birmingham to state Ofsted wanted to recruit more heads and end the use of external inspectors.

ASCL general secretary Brian Lightman explained that Ofsted inspections have become a real barrier that prevents people who have previously excelled in teaching jobs from going to other schools to advance their careers in the teaching profession.

"We are getting more and more cases of people rapidly reacting to an Ofsted inspection," he said.

The ASCL also said it worked alongside almost 150 heads and deputies in England who have left their teaching jobs this academic year due to unfavourable Ofsted reports.

Sir Michael acknowledged the problems inspections can bring, stating that although he looked back on his time as a head with "deep, deep nostalgia", the spectre of inspection "was never far away from my thoughts".

The proposals outlined by Ofsted would need to be approved by the Department for Education before they are rolled out.

Is this a step in the right direction or would it lead to falling standards in the British education system? Tell us your views on - and experiences of - school inspections.