Ofsted has given its biggest indication yet that it is willing to change the way it inspects people in teaching jobs and the schools that employ them.

Teachers have attributed much of their disgruntlement to the watchdog in recent times, with Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) general secretary Brian Lightman accusing Ofsted inspections of creating a climate of fear in the profession.

In response to an invitation from the regulator to offer improved ways of putting the schools system under the microscope, numerous think tanks duly obliged.

Policy Exchange, which was set up by education secretary Michael Gove, went so far as to suggest that lesson observations could be scrapped in the next overhaul, but speaking to the ASCL's annual conference chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw rubbished the idea.

However, he was not so defiant about other possible changes.

The Ofsted boss suggested he agreed with the criticism that external inspectors may not be able to provide sound judgements about the merits of what goes on inside a classroom. To combat this and give teachers a fairer deal during inspections, Sir Michael outlined plans to hire a "substantial number" of new inspectors. 

This is a radical shift as currently the watchdog works with around 3,500 outsourced inspectors from private companies. Replacing them with Her Majesty's Inspectors, who are contracted directly to Ofsted may go some way to appeasing teachers and removing the climate of fear, with the chief inspector himself saying this move would help "eradicate inconsistencies" between inspection teams.

But Sir Michael went further still, stating the frequency of inspections could also change. Under proposals announced at the conference, schools that have been previously rated as 'good' would receive a one-day visit from Ofsted once in a two-year period. Ofsted's current method is to subject a school to a full inspection every five years. Sir Michael now admits there is "little point" to this except in cases of schools that are on the verge of achieving an 'outstanding' rating.

Under the new plans, the only other schools that will be subjected to full inspections would be those that are rated as 'requires improvement' and 'inadequate'.

Yet some teachers may still feel short changed. Addressing criticisms that inspectors only see around 20 minutes of a lesson, Sir Michael said: "It doesn't take that long to see whether the teacher is in charge or whether the children are. It doesn't take that long to check whether youngsters are learning in a bright, stimulating and orderly environment.

"It doesn't take that long to check whether the children are arriving on time and that lessons start promptly. It doesn't take that long to check whether the books are graffiti-free and well marked, and that homework is routinely given."

A TES/ASCL survey of secondary school leaders published prior to Sir Michael's speech showed that 65 per cent of school leaders did not have confidence in Ofsted to make "accurate and reliable" judgments.

Are the regulator's suggested changes enough to offer hope to teachers? Will they lift the climate of fear and allow teachers to do what they feel is their vocation? Can teachers and schools look forward to restoring some pride and setting about improving the fortunes of their pupils without the threat of an "inadequate" stamp hanging over them?   

These changes are set to come into effect from the start of the next academic year, but Ofsted admits they could be enacted sooner. Is the watchdog's desire for sudden change some level of admittance that it has been doing things incorrectly, or rather ironically that the inspector is wilting under the pressure of being inspected?