nearest school has shot up the league tables, and now I'm confused

[Botbot]

We are in the middle of applying for schools for DD. In our borough, you get to state four preferences, and we thought we had it sorted: three 'punts' (ie schools that we live fairly near and stand a vague chance of getting into; grade 2 Ofsteds, mid-table performers), plus our second nearest school (I'll call it school B), which also has grade 2 Ofsted but is very low in the league tables.

The school we have been resolutely avoiding is our nearest school (school A), which is more or less across the road. It has a very bad reputation, last year was just as low in the league tables as school B, and has a grade 3 Ofsted to boot.

This was until we looked at the new league tables last night. We were shocked to see that school A (the nearest one) has rocketed up the borough tables, from 46th out of 64 to 8th out of 64, bypassing even all the schools we were going to 'take a punt' on! And on the CVA score, it's the best-performing school in the borough, with a brilliant 102.9%. This is an amazing achievement, especially given the sort of area I live in ('deprived', I think you could call it), and I'm hugely impresssed. School B, conversely, is languishing right down at the bottom of the table - I think it's 59th out of 64.

So I'm now completely confused. I have visited both schools and tbh I wasn't impressed at all with School A, though that could be because of my slightly snobby preconceived ideas of how rubbish the school was. I felt it had an air of dejection and was very tatty round the edges. I was shown round by a lunchtime supervisor who didn't seem to have anything positive to say about the school, and I wasn't introduced to any of the teachers.

School B, conversely, school B had a bright, vibrant atmosphere, much better facilities and I was very impressed with it.

So what do I do? DD is a bright, very able child who I worry wouldn't be adequately challenged in an underperforming school. Ironically, that's another thing that initially put me off School A: its Ofsted report says it is 'letting down its more able pupils'. But it must be doing something right!

I know that SATS scores aren't a very reliable indicator of how schools are going to perform in the future, so they are not the be-all and end-all, but I worry that if I stick to school B, I'll feel like I've failed DD in some way.

I think I'll still put the 'punts' on the list (in the knowledge that I probably won't get into them anyway) but what shall I do about the backup? Shall I go for the amazingly high-achieving one that I didn't like the look of, or the underachieving one that I felt at home in? Aaaaagh!

Sorry, that was long. And I SWORE I was not going to get stressed about school admissions

[noddyholder]

If at all possible I thoroughly reccomend going to your local school.It is great to be part of the local community and good involved parents can turn a school around.

[foxinsocks]

has it got a new head (school A)?

[Botbot]

Good point noddy, but both School A and School B are very local - both are within 5 minutes' walk (am in London). The 'punt' schools are all no further than a 15-minute walk away. So whatever school we get into, it will still be a local school.

[Botbot]

foxinsocks, I don't think so. Weirdly, it's school B who has a new head that people are talking about (he was described as 'shit-hot' by a teacher at another school I visited). It's all so confusing!

Maybe it's all a big mistake

[Botbot]

I've always been a firm believer in instinct, but now I'm starting to doubt myself - I've just remembered that I saw school B on a lovely sunny day, and when I saw school A it was pouring with rain. Am I stupid enough to have been influenced by the WEATHER?

[brimfull]

I wouldn't base your decision on ofsted reports , have a look at this article that was in the sunday times.

[Botbot]

Interesting and eye-opening article, ggirl (though probably a bit politically biased as it's in the Times and the author has been published by the Centre for Policy Studies). I think it's broadly right though - perhaps Ofsted should place greater emphasis on academic achievement. The thing about not correcting a child's work particularly irks me - I'm a book editor, so no stranger to the red pen!

[foxinsocks]

I'd go and see them again botbot. Most schools more than happy to let people have another peek!

[jelliebelly]

I would ignore the leagues tables and go and visit both schools again preferably with the head or a senior teacher so that you can ask some pertinent questions about their performance. I suspect that you will have a gut feeling for one or the other on a second visit.

[Botbot]

I think you're both right - I need to go back there. DH hasn't even visited School A; he just dismissed it out of hand because of its reputation. So I need to drag him along. And ask to bypass the slightly odd arrangement they have of the dinnerladies showing you round, and actually speak to a teacher.

A good friend of DH's teaches at another local school, so I'll try to get some inside info from him too.

Arse - I thought I had it all sussed. Just goes to show, doesn't it...

[smee]

botbot I think I might have guessed where you are. But even if I'm wrong you should honestly go for the school you liked. If it's the one I think you mean it begins with S and is genuinely fab and everyone is right about the new head. If it is school S, the SATs were woeful last year, but it's a blip due to all sorts of factors.

[Botbot]

Smee, nope, School A actually does begin with A. (school B begins with E). By the way, school A has been underperforming for years, only came out of special measures about three years ago. It is seen as 'a school for no-hopers' (not my words but those of a neighbour who has lived in the area all his life) and was undersubscribed last year, I think. This high performance seems such an anomaly.

Riven, I am starting to be tempted... you may see me on the home-ed boards yet!

[DiamondHead]

That Sunday Times article is very irritating. They're always state school bashing in the Times. Our state school is fab.

[smee]

Ah well that's a coincidence! Shame as I could have filled you in a bit more as I know people with kids there. I still think you have to go with your instinct - go visit both again and ask school B about the SATs results and why they've gone down.

[seeker]

Sometimes schools that have been in special measures do very well because everything gets a good shake up and things improve. And everyone gets very focussed on improvement. Our 3/borderline 4 OFSTED was the best thing that could have happened to our school!

[Skegness]

Agree with visiting both again with an open mind. And after that I'd go on what you like the look/feel of rather than the SAT results, personally.

I'm rather surprised to hear you were shown round a school by a dinner lady, tbh. We were usually shown round by the headteacher or deputy at primary level or occasionally by older pupils (nice- gives sense of pupils being trusted to make a good impression) but then followed by a chance to meet the head. Ime, good heads usually want to meet and welcome prospective parents/pupils and give them a sense of the school's ethos. I'd be concerned that the head was a bit aloof/hands off/absent/off the ball if they were happy to delegate that role entirely to lunchtime supervisors.

Anyway, good luck choosing and with the application process.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

I took my DD out of a school that was high in te league tables to a school that I have no idea where it is in the league tables (its too small to pubish results). I would not go on league tables. My SIL said that a bad school can coach kids to do well in SATS. Does not mean the all round education is good.

Which is exactly what was happening at DD's old school. Her old school also got a very poor Ofsted and has a bad reputation.

[Botbot]

Skegness - yes, the dinner lady thing really put me off - we've been shown round by the head or a deputy at every other school we've visited. All I know of the School A head teacher is her name.

School B had four Year 6 children showing us round. They were charming and very positive about the school - that's one of the things I loved about it.

Stripey - yes, good point. This is all very helpful, everyone

[Botbot]

oh and Seeker, good point too!

[Rollergirl1]

I have to say I think you should go with your gut. That's what I did. There was one school visit that I was expecting to have really high hopes about as had the best Ofsted and SAT scores of all the other schools we visited, along with the most highly regarded in the area. Yet I felt distinctly underwhelmed while talking to the Head and walking around. It didn't help that there was another couple doing the tour the same time as me and I found the wife immensely irritating and smug. But I just didn't get a good vibe about it. Hence I didn't put it anywhere within my 3 preferences.