Ofsted - can they visit on a Mon/Fri?

[cat811]

Am I right in thinking that they could/would never visit on a Monday, as you would either have an unfair advantage (being told by 12 on Friday) or disadvantage (being told by 12 on Sunday)
And similarly, I had heard that they never visit on a Friday, as they always need a day after the inspection to finish/file paperwork/reports, and if they were inspecting on a Fri then they wouldn't have a 'following' day - is this true, or just a rumour?
Just trying to eliminate the possibility to inspection happening on certain key days in calendar...thanks!

[bundaberg]

i would imagine they wouldn't come in on a friday because the inspection takes more than a day?

[magnumicelolly]

As far as I know they can and do turn up on both. Maybe look at reports for confirmation- match the inspection dates to days? They should just make it the same as for early years settings and not give any warning at all I think- would be much fairer!

[cat811]

It can be one day, for small schools or for a monitoring visit - but for a 2 day I've heard it couldn't be Thur/Fri, because they would then not have a following day - I'm basically hoping to try to work out that they could only come to us on Tue/Wed, or Wed/Thur! (if it is 2 days)

[JumpingJetFlash]

They can definitely come on a Thurs/Fri as that's when they came to us in March. (Sorry )
Think you're right about Mondays though as they phone the day before and couldn't call school on a Sunday.

[tapdancingmum]

My inspection was a Monday but as I am a pre-school we don't get notification. I was there at 8.30 and she walked through the door at 8.40

We got 'Good' and are over the moon

I would second looking at previous inspections and working out the days.

[sunshinemeg]

For secondary schools they can phone as late as 2.20pm the day before a visit. They take 2 days to complete a visit. Therefore if you haven't heard by Wednesday afternoon they won't be in that week. They won't arrive on a Monday as the OP said as that means either too much or not enough warning.

[NoForkNKnife]

Errr...secondary here. Monday, Tuesday inspection. We were told onnthe thursday I think. I guess slightly unfair, but a bloody awful weekend.
Oh, and about 2 years ago.

[cat811]

Thanks NoFork - i think that's because back then everyone got two days notice, and they have now changed it (as of this summer) to day before notice only (partly to avoid the nightmare weekend of prep, like you said!)
Thanks all - I'm hoping this means def no to Mon at least, even if fri is still an option!

[EvilTwins]

They came to us for a Thursday/Friday inspection about a month ago. Got the call at 1pm on the Wednesday. They were out and about in school right up until the bell on Friday afternoon.

[Ihatespiders]

Another one with a Thur/Fri inspection. Ours was right at the start of September. Call came Weds lunchtime.

I also got done on a Thurs/Fri when on placement as a trainee.

[Worried123456]

We always know we're safe for the week by the end of school on Wednesday! They'd phone on Monday to come Tues/Wed, they'd phone on Tuesday to come Wed/Thu and would phone Wednesday to come Thurs/Fri.

[Notsoskinnyminny]

In a way I'm wishing we'd got the phone call because our head has got us all walking on eggshells. They used to phone before lunchtime but we've been told its after 2pm so there's even less time to prepare and if the phone isn't answered they turn up unannounced. What's the bet the poor secretary will be running round delivering a forgotten PE kit when they call.

[Ihatespiders]

The call is lunchtime. It was about 12.30 for us, earlier this term. The Head told us all before 1pm.

They do ring again if the call is not answered!

[doglover]

We had OFSTED on a Thurs / Fri 2 weeks ago. Phone call was 12:30 on Wed.

[Orangeanddemons]

We got done last winter. Call was about 11.15.

No official announcement until after dinner, but the whole school knew by about 12.00

[ReluctantBeing]

Our previous inspection started on a Monday, so we were all in at the weekend. I Believe this has changed now, so you won't be inspected on a Monday.

[juniper9]

We were 'done' in the second to last week of the summer term, but one of the inspectors was booked in for another school the following week. The last week of term! Imagine! All of their displays would have been taken down and they'd be in the 'educational DVD' zone.

We were on tenter hooks for about 2 years, and every Wednesday at 1pm we sighed in relief.

I was hoping they'd wait til this academic year as I'm on maternity, but no such luck! My Head did play on the 'Juniper is very heavily pregnant- be nice' but I don't think they cared had souls We got a good anyway, even with my penguin type waddling around my room.

[Hibou7688]

I had a friend who's school had a section 5 inspection on a mon/tues.. They were informed on fri. This was only last academic year.

[ReluctantBeing]

It's changed this year.

[samsonthecat]

We've just been done. They phoned 2pm on Monday and did yesterday and today.

[Shoutymomma]

They def do Thur/fri as a friend who is inspecting tomorrow and fri. Don't recall them ever doing fri/mon.