DD's only option is 'inadequate' school. Please help.

[Lemonsqueezeit]

Moved to a new area, and all the good/outstanding schools can't take dd. (oversubscribed). My last (and only) choice of school have offered her a place. Last ofsted report deemed the school 'inadequate'. I read the report and my eyes stung. The most awful, dreadful reviews. Bullying is said to be rife, in fact they received inadequate across the board for everything. This was in 2019.The school has since been moved to an academy. I cannot get any report on this school because they haven't been inspected yet.

Please tell me moving to an academy will help the school to improve? I genuinely feel sick.

Other option is to consider a house move 😔

Really strongly disagree with those saying recruiting for staff right now is not a red flag. As someone who's worked in a school in a similar situation, recruiting now definitely is.

It is rare for secondary schools to need lots of teachers for an Easter start- most teachers don't like to leave their classes before exams. Yes, I can accept one or two teachers moving on at this time for personal reasons, but it's not a usual break point in secondary. So even if they are recruiting to replace staff planning to leave at Easter, it's a bad sign those staff are choosing not to hang on until the summer holidays.

Because teachers don't like leaving current posts at Easter, it also means that even if they're short staffed now, they will be in the summer term, and that will have a negative impact on the school as a whole.

There are several posters on this thread who are either out of touch with the reality of secondary education in 2022, or just keen to prove how right on they are by pretending they would happily accept this school for their own DC.

The 19% Grade 5s in maths for example is also a problem, because it means they'll maybe have one set sitting the higher paper- covering abilities from a grade 5 to grade 9. This won't be a good experience for those at either extreme of that spectrum. It also means if your child was borderline for getting say a 5/6 I'd be worried about the ability of the school to get them to the higher grade.

If the school is short staffed now/this year, there's every chance things will get worse, rather than get better.

As you have to appeal for a place anyway, it surely makes sense to appeal for a school you're actually happy at.

Don't despair you can get her on the waiting list for other schools, places will come up regularly. Its a judgement call what you do in the meantime. Interhigh is an online school so that's an option if you can afford it, or straight home education. Depends really on how flexible she is and how easily she makes friends, also her opinion obviously. If she is willing to go to the inadequate school temporarily then I would think that would be the best option. I really sympathise as my son suffered due to my moving during primary, sounds like you are more sussed about it than I was though.

How wide are you prepared to cast your net? I am in Scotland so things are different, but would it be possible to consider a better school outside your local area?

Google their progress 8 score. That is fairly recent and shows how many grades they add to each gcse compared with the level the child could have expected at the start of secondary. Worry about anything negative.

The secondary mine are going to was rated inadequate a few years ago, has since been taken over by an academy and is definitely now much better, I know of several children who have come through recently with really good grades, bullying has been addressed and is actively dealt with, and the facilities are incredible. Ask around and don't write it off!

I'd apply to the private schools for an art scholarship and explain your circumstances.

There may be grounds for appeal, based on what you’ve said about the art and creative writing options at the preferred school, if the offered school can’t provide those. It’s worth a try.

I think you’re doing what you can and you’ll have a better idea when you’ve visited the school. Based on your observations, I’d have reservations too.

Waiting lists can change and there could be some movement. I hope you find a solution quickly.

Think it said that their progress 8 was 10% lower than the national average.

If you pay to get access to locating I think you can get the results of parent surveys. Might be informative.

Just to help calm your mind @Lemonsqueezeit I've worked in schools that were inadequate and they were the most caring nurturing schools I've worked in. Every child had something to celebrate
The last school I worked in got outstanding -it was shit,
Have an open mind and look at the ethos of the school too

High number of SEN(D) children
High number of children receiving pupil premium

What does this have to do with sending your child there? I'm genuinely trying to work out why you've mentioned this.

If 19 kids were excluded that's 19 kids you don't have to worry about?

On paper my Ds’s secondary grammar was amazing. In reality, for very many, it was shite! Outstanding schools that rest on their excellent laurels and reputations gained in ‘days of yore’ often don’t move with the times or accept things change - society, students, attitudes etc. They ignore problems eg drug-use and deny it could happen in their school. An ‘unsatisfactory’ school will be under scrutiny. They will be looking to how they can best meet the needs of their current students in today’s world.
Look round. Talk to staff. Talk to students. See the whole picture.

Our local secondary school is very similar, last rated inadequate in 2019 then converted to an academy. I went to the open day fully expecting to put it bottom of my list, but was really impressed with how the new headteacher had turned things around. Friends with children there seem to agree that the change is genuine not just putting on a good show for the open. I ended up putting it second on my list and will be happy if DS goes there.

From what I've read on here it would actually not strengthen the appeal case to not be attending school, as the LA have done their duty by offering a place at a school and it would be the OPs decision to turn it down. I'm prepared to be corrected here by the admissions experts though!

Some really positive insights this morning - thank you. I'll keep an open-mind and feel better when we go and visit next week. I haven't told DD anything negative about the school as she's really looking forward to it. I just said we'll see how she gets on etc. She is very honest with me and will tell me if anything is wrong, or troubling her.

Her name is down for all the other secondaries on a waiting list - so worst comes to worst hopefully a place will eventually come available in one of those. Failing that, I'm looking at funds available for private. The fees are astronomical though as the private school in our local town is one of the best in the country. E

You might be able to move her ( from private or the inadequate school) in year. My old school had quite a few students join in Year 8 as places became available as people moved . Also look out for UTC ' s there are two in our city that take students from Y9 and their results seem pretty good.

What does this have to do with sending your child there? I'm genuinely trying to work out why you've mentioned this.
When a school has good results and a decent report neither of those things are a problem

When a school is inadequate they are huge red flags because a school that's got inadequate leadership and management is not likely to put the relevant support in for those pupils. Services around children and families are cut to the bone and my concern with an inadequate school with that sort of roll would be that a large number of children would be overlooked and barely taught.

That's based on my experience working in a school that is similar to what the OP describes. The reality is children were being failed and never send my DC to a similar school.

I think there are bursaries or half bursaries available for private schools. I moved in third year to a private school from a rough and mixed results girls secondary. To be honest I think my DM would’ve preferred it not to be a convent (but a girl I know went there) and the local private girls school and I think she regretted not sending me sooner.

Hum. Higher SEN and pupil premium. These are facts but you are being very judgemental. So if someone was abandoned by their partner and needs free school meals they are less intelligent? Two words, Marcus Rashford. @crussont I agree. Every child deserves a chance.
I gave advice up thread but if you think choosing an 'outstanding school' guarantees you results and kindness you are being niave.
I would suggest you go the private school route because for your daughter it will be disruptive to move her when an alternative place suddenly comes up. She may like it there, you are suggesting that you can't think of anything worse. When you relocated it would have been wise to check with the local schools. Due diligence. My DC were both state and privately educated, I know who did the most for them.

I didn't realise as been living abroad for a while.

I gave facts about the school. - general facts - not meaning anything judgemental. I also mentioned positives and things that I found from just my research too.

Well as long as some people can afford to go private, that's the main thing. Kids with SEN or who receive pupil premium obviously are irrelevant when it comes to a decent education

Well as long as some people can afford to go private, that's the main thing. Kids with SEN or who receive pupil premium obviously are irrelevant when it comes to a decent education

Away with this. Nobody said that and you know it.

@Clymene Not a single poster has said this...

I also haven't assumed OP can afford private school, which is why I suggested looking at those online schools (like supported home schooling where you benefit from external teachers)