My dc (one in y9 one in y8) has just had the worst ofsted report I've ever seen (and I worked in education for many years and have seen a lot).
I knew the school was struggling after the last head (who had turned it from a 'bog standard comp' to the shiny super-school of the area) left suddenly in horrible (and identifying, so I won't elaborate) circumstances at the end of 2015, but I'd held on in the hope things would settle.
Clearly, 2.5 years later, they are nowhere near that point and I'm concerned.
There are 4 schools in this town, and not one has a rating above 'Requires Improvement', but in the neighbouring town (9 miles away) there is an Outstanding school with a very long-standing reputation for excellence. As it serves a rural area with declining population, it's likely to have spaces. I've called them this morning and am waiting for a call back.
It would involve a 30-ish min bus trip each way for the dc, but as they will be nearly 15 and 13, that doesn't bother me too much. My main worry is that the school doesn't offer one of dc1's GCSE options.
Dc are both on board with the idea and pretty excited (at the moment).
WWYD?