Y10 DD. Awful Ofsted. WWYD?

We moved our DD from state to independent after a term in year 10, due to bullying. The state school had a bad Ofsted grade and we had wanted to move her previously, prior to the bullying, but she wanted to stay. It seems to have worked out okay and she’s predicted high GCSE grades from the new school, but we’ll see this summer. Obviously slightly different as earlier on in year 10 and because we felt that we had no alternative as the old school was completely uninterested in trying to sort out the bullying.

Another option, particularly if your DC is young for their year, would be to consider redoing year 10 in September in the independent school, if they’ll let you. We could have done this but our DD was doing okay academically despite the failings of her state school.

If things are really bad and you have the cash, there is the option to move her to a private school that does 1-year GCSEs. Two schools near us do this. Mostly they are aimed at kids coming from overseas to do a prep year before they start sixth form, but there's no reason a British student couldn't do it. I think it limits the number of GCSEs you could take - 6 at one of the schools, and 8 at the other.

See below

One issue that’s not being recognised is that often schools with RI or Inadequate judgement frequently have poor assessment too. DD might not be “on track” at all. The teachers could be a grade or two out and it’s rarely good for the student. If teachers are supply and there have been several of them, I would look at assessment judgements very closely.

So it has a good culture and ethos, high standards and good teachers. But an inadequate OFSTED. What are the specific issues?

Agree that you shouldn’t move her. She’s on track and doing OK. moving in year 10’is too disruptive.

The school has now had a major kick up the backside and will be focussing resources on keeping up GCSE grades as both a bad report and poor grades will sink the school and its ability to attract pupils. She should get ‘real’ teachers not supply for her classes for year 11, and there will likely be a heavy focus on ensuring best possible grades/extra classes/targeted support - so this ofsted might actually work out to be advantageous for her.

She can then move for 6th form.

Have a look at the parent view website. Pretty shocking. https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/parent-view-results

Is it actually graded inadequate?
what about the individual areas?

from what you’ve posted that is not a scathing ofsted in the current context.

Sounds exactly the same as my dcs school. Are you in the North West by any chance I wonder. I have dc in years 9 +11. We're staying put. Ofsted aren't fit for purpose and although i think the school has gone down in standards the pros outweigh the cons for us.

Industrial action isn’t everywhere. The OP’s daughter has lost 15 days to strike action this year. I am a secondary maths teacher. The pupils I teach have lost zero days to industrial action. Ofsted, though not perfect, is not to be ignored.

It sounds like you have money available to fill in any gaps. Make sure you focus on what's important. That's:

• grade 5+ in English & Maths (essential!)
• getting enough high grade GCSEs to get the post-16 place she wants
• making sure she's confident with all the GCSE content required for post-16 courses so she's not having to fill in the gaps later

Schools act like GCSEs are so important but as once as they get you into the next stage they soon become fairly irrelevant (except maths & English).

The oP said she agreed with the report. I would bet not all schools are inadequate! They are better. If ofsted confirm what a parent thinks it’s not just got a few issues, and the op clearly knew it was poor and ofsted confirmed it. So she might have looked for solutions anyway.

You say she is on track. Ask yourself what you would be doing and how you would be feeling if there hadn't been an ofsted. If you were previously happy to keep her there then I am not sure why you would change. There is no guarantee it would be better elsewhere. Most secondary schools have plenty of supply as teachers are leaving.

Not read full thread. Moving in year 10 may not actually be possible (in terms of target schools); I would not do it in terms of disruption. I think you can achieve a lot by lining up tutors to support her in key subjects, and getting good revision materials in for her (there is a vast swathe of revision guides, and online subscription websites, and online masterclasses). If she is motivated she can do it despite school issues.

I'd focus on tutors for subjects lacking teachers.

If you have money I'd do this.

In similar position over longer time period - no state places in other schools and can't do private. DS got out last year with really good grades with just parental - mainly me- help and revision books and on-line resources - he's in the college programs for exception students kind of well.

DD2 I'm more worried about - her entire year seems very young - she's less idea of where she wants to get to - and not sure how much help she'll accept. I think she'll still do well enough for a-levels at college but it is a worry.

What does your daughter think and want to do?

If your DD was prepared to do some catch up work, I’d be looking to get out now to start at a good private after Easter. If it’s the school I’m thinking of, there are more strikes planned this week, which must be terribly unsettling.

Even good leafy comps are having trouble filling vacancies and managing budgets. I would stick it out and if you can afford it consider supplementing with tutors in any problematic critical subjects.

@liz4change Yes I do agree but after y8 or even after y9 is ok to move. Obviously if they are doing 3 year GCSEs, y9 is difficult. I understand what you mean about slow creep! It’s a slow dawning something is wrong. However lots of supply and instability of staff is a strong indicator of turbulence. Sometimes exam results are not obviously impacted because parents get tutors but Ofsted clearly have concerns and often this is centred on quality of teaching and learning and quality of SLT. Turning these schools around is not immediate so the school and MAT will have work to do and if they have sleep-walked into this, they might be in denial. If new head got a decent review, then change could be quicker. If curriculum is poor, teaching is not great and there are other big concerns, a quick improvement is not likely.

@liz4change Im mystified about why you didn’t leave earlier. You agree with Ofsted and you could see the leadership
eas going downhill and there were lots of supply teachers. Ofsted have probably called this right.

You cannot really move now. So get tutors and try and keep dc positive. Then move for 6th form. I cannot see any other route.

When posters ask if dc is doing well, I’m never sure how parents can trust what an inadequate school tells them. Supply teachers may not be assessing in line with school policy. Very few really good schools have hit and miss teaching. Quite simply parents in schools where standards are not good enough have a very difficult job to know how well dc are doing. Unless they can compare to other similar dc in other schools. You do have to trust the school to improve but few do in one year.

I will be in a similar position soon

I'll just get private tutors if necessary next year

I know this is not an option for many but moving school on y10 would be catastrophic imo

If you can afford private you can afford tutors to make sure she's reaching the standard she wants to and is capable of. Changing for year 11 will knock her back worse than staying in a crap school.

Is this St U, by any chance?