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Ofsted inspectors are to turn up at schools without warning, MPs were told yesterday.

Heads would have to open their doors to inspectors, with no chance to prepare teachers or children for the visit. Ofsted hopes that this will provide an accurate snapshot. A source said that parents had complained of teachers rehearsing lessons when told an inspection was due. They currently have 48 hours’ notice.

Now, under a pilot project, schools will undergo “no-notice” inspections. These are expected to be extended across England in 2009. Christine Gilbert, the Chief Inspector of Schools, told the Commons Children, Schools and Families Committee: “We are considering representations from parents and pupils that inspections should take place without any prior notice. We will look at the practicalities as part of our planning for the new inspection framework.”

The Association of School and College Leaders, which represents secondary school heads, opposed the idea. John Dunford, its general secretary, said: “No-notice inspections would be more punitive and create increased stress, as heads keep a constant watch on the school gate. They certainly would not move the inspection system a great deal further forward in terms of effectiveness.

“Ofsted should consider the bigger question of whether to do away with mandatory inspection altogether.”

The Conservatives welcomed the idea of no-notice inspections. Michael Gove, the Shadow Children’s Secretary, said: “I’m delighted that Ofsted is seriously considering our suggestion. ”

Inspectors would also take more note of local intelligence, such as problems raised by parents, Ms Gilbert said.

She told the committee that she expected a drop in the number of schools rated good or satisfactory when the new inspection system came into force in 2009. Standards “appear to drop when a new framework has been introduced,” Ms Gilbert said, “because a new framework is demanding higher standards of schools”.

Too many schools were inadequate, although things had improved, she said. “We do think that there is still a great deal to be done and that there are serious issues to be addressed, not least the teaching of literacy – I put that above numeracy. Literacy and numeracy seem to me to be key because if children can’t read by the time they get to secondary school it is very difficult to access the broader curriculum.”

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