ofsted reports

[GirlWiththeMouseyHair]

we've put an offer in on our first home which happens to be in the catchment area for one of the best schools in our area (ie, last 2 ofsted reports were solid 1's). As DS is only 13months, I'd not really thought of been hugely bothered by it, assuming we'd only be able to afford a flat we'd have to move out of within 2 years anyway, but this one I could see us living in until he's well into school, so obviously the catchment is a bit of a bonus.

However - their most recent oftsed report is out this week and they've gone down to a 3!! surely this is weird? I've not even started looking round schools etc but now thinking maybe I ought to seeing as good schools are so oversubscribed in London, but how come the reports can fluctuate so much and should I be unduly worried?

[TidyHollyBush]

New head teacher perhaps?

My DDs' old primary school went from an overall 2 with 3x 1s to 3s across the board within 2 years of the new head and chair of governors taking up position. Have a good read of the report becuase in my case the report is very critical of the SMT.

[TidyHollyBush]

Forgot to say that as your DS is so young I wouldn't worry too much yet - a lot can change in a couple of year. But it is important to remember that it is far easier and quicker for school to drop in performance than it is to build it back up again.

[GirlWiththeMouseyHair]

thankyou! I wasn't really worried (or even thinking about it) until I saw the latest report, I guess I'm trying to also think about resale value of the flat but by that time they'll have had at least one more report so there's not much point in second guessing

Do school's performances tend to go down initially when there's a new head?

[TidyHollyBush]

"Do school's performances tend to go down initially when there's a new head?"

Only if they aren't very good - but unfortunately if it's their first headship no one could have judged that they'd not be up to it until they started