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Original poster

Moved miles away for a better school now inadequate

57 replies

Makeastand · 02/03/2023 14:29

Hi all, first ever thread on here so please bear with!

I'm just reaching out as we've recently made a life changing move three hours across the country for a better area where we used to live, including for what was until the other month, an outstanding secondary school. Thing is, as soon as we get here, the school is rated inadequate with reports of poor safeguarding and bullying problems. The more I've looked into it, the more (although results are excellent) this seems to be a factor. I'm now missing people from back home and wondering if after only a few months, we should make the drastic step to move back. We have gained on the housing market even in that time as property where we are currently is more expensive, so we could get a nicer place than we had before should we move back. Thing is that obviously the deadline for secondary school admissions has now gone so I don't know where I'd get my DD into. Just feeling so lost and confused and worried I've now made a huge mistake. Anyone with similar stories please let me know your thoughts, thanks.

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 02/03/2023 14:32

That's the risk with playing the system and also a first world problem, many at the moment would kill to have to funds to do that.

FriedEggChocolate · 02/03/2023 14:36

What has the school said in response to the OFsted report? Is there a new safeguarding policy, have senior managers left etc.

rubyslippers · 02/03/2023 14:37

School cycles are cyclical
if you move back, then the school you go back to could change
You shouldn’t be making any impulsive choices and you may not even get your child into the school you want

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General education
Ariela · 02/03/2023 14:40

The thing you have to think of is now this has been flagged it'll be looked at more closely by Ofsted, an outstanding school can go longer between inspections. So policies will be put in place to rectify the shortcomings in last year's inspection. Whereas another school might have an old but perfect score.

Personally we didn't go by Ofsted reports, we picked the schools that seemed best fit to child and crossed fingers we got a place if outside catchment.

Moonicorn · 02/03/2023 14:44

Well 🤷🏼‍♀️ to be honest I think such a huge move for a school is a little silly, and this was always a risk, albeit a bit unlucky. What if you move back and the school she ends up at there is a bit of a dump?

saraclara · 02/03/2023 14:44

Was it inadequate in all areas, or 'just' in safeguarding etc?

It's a lot easier and quicker to address a single area of the five or six that are graded, than it is if the school is inadequate or needing improvement in several or all of them..

If it's only one area that's led to the overall grading, then I'd sit it out and see if they bring in big changes. If there's a lot that needs to be addressed, I'd see what options you have for other schools in the area that you've moved to, rather than move straight back.

bluebird3 · 02/03/2023 14:48

I'd say it takes 18m-2 years to settle into a new place so I'd give it more time. Where there other reasons you moved than just the schools? I wouldn't be too worried about the Ofsted. If they were outstanding before the quality of teaching is probably still and they mishandled a safeguarding which while bad, can be easily rectified with improved training/oversight. Maybe reevaluate in a year once you've given the new school and area a good go.

sixfoot · 02/03/2023 14:48

Where have you moved from and to?

DistrictCommissioner · 02/03/2023 14:50

did you like the school when you looked round?

Bluevelvetsofa · 02/03/2023 14:52

That’s been the risk with historically outstanding schools. Because of it, they’ve been left alone for years, ten years sometimes, so they’re behind the curve on many things, not having had to bother.

You’re between a rock and a hard place, as the secondary offers have gone out, so you’d be a late application if you moved and might have to accept a school that’s not of your choosing. What do local people say about the recent Ofsted? Are parents anxious?

Shalapoo · 02/03/2023 15:10

Unfortunately, it’s a risk to take in any school. To make such a big move in the hopes of getting into a better school is a huge risk, also at times not a popular one with other parents who already live in that area trying to get their kids into the school.

as someone has said, the school are now on Ofsted’s radar and they will be doing everything they can to bring the grade back up

Emelene · 02/03/2023 15:11

Solidarity … we moved for primary which was Outstanding but hadn’t had an inspection for 15!! Years. Now inadequate, released after the deadline. We are going private (at great cost)

Novita · 02/03/2023 15:21

We put a "required improvement" school to dds first choice because the school works otherwise well for us. Just yesterday it got its latest Ofsted result and its now "Good".

Hellocatshome · 02/03/2023 15:28

The secondary school my youngest is in got put into special measures the year he moved there. Best thing that ever happened to the school. Sometimes they just need a kick up the arse. Most outstanding schools in my opinion are outstanding in box ticking it doesn't necessarily mean they are actually a good place for your child to be.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 02/03/2023 15:35

blimey - thought the OP was going to say 3 miles, not 3 hours! That's bonkers.

gogohmm · 02/03/2023 15:41

Requires improvement can be more of a paperwork issue

Dottysocksandglasses · 02/03/2023 15:43

You moved all that way for an Ofsted report?

GlassBunion · 02/03/2023 15:44

The school will be watched like a hawk and policies and practices will be immediately put in place and monitored.

I'd rather my child attended a school like that which has had a kick up the bum than an outstanding school that's just coasting along, believing that it can do no wrong.

Ellie56 · 02/03/2023 16:15

@Makeastand

This sounds familiar. Is it a school in Derbyshire?

sociallyawkwardz · 02/03/2023 16:19

Moving your whole life for an OFSTED report? You reap what you sow I'm afraid.

Original poster
Makeastand · 02/03/2023 16:30

Hi all, I think there's been some confusion. I didn't ONLY move for the school/OFSTED report. we lived here ten years ago and were very happy with the area, we still like it, BUT I also liked where we came from, where the schools were generally not very good

OP posts:
Brazilagogo · 02/03/2023 16:32

Ofsted inspections are often completely subjective and parents would be well advised to read them with a very large grain of salt. DP used to work at a school that was rated inadequate when it had achieved the highest progress measures in the local authority’s. Now works at a school that retained its outstanding grading but didn’t have a health and safety policy that was worth the paper it was written on - if Ofsted had asked any questions about that, they would have found a huge wormhole of things the school aren’t doing.

I was shocked that inspectors only observe 1/2 a lesson at a time and then assess whether a teacher has achieved the outcome of the lesson when they haven’t seen the end of it so how could they possibly know whether it had been achieved or not? Our internal audit team takes 2-3 weeks at a time with a 6 different team members spending 2-3 hours or more in each department before they start writing their report; Ofsted have 2 or possibly 3 inspectors for 1.5 days. It’s superficial inspection at best, as could be seen at the special provision care homes in Doncaster that had been rated good months before being closed down for systematic abuse last year.

Original poster
Makeastand · 02/03/2023 16:32

Moonicorn · 02/03/2023 14:44

Well 🤷🏼‍♀️ to be honest I think such a huge move for a school is a little silly, and this was always a risk, albeit a bit unlucky. What if you move back and the school she ends up at there is a bit of a dump?

It wasn't just for the school, it's an area we have previously lived in that we know and love

OP posts:
kelpie9 · 02/03/2023 16:33

How do you know your child will benefit form either a good or bad school?

Is your child very clever in your eyes?

I think this is a mad idea to pick and area due to school reports.

Enjoy your new home and do not push your child, it could backfire on you.

Original poster
Makeastand · 02/03/2023 16:34

bluebird3 · 02/03/2023 14:48

I'd say it takes 18m-2 years to settle into a new place so I'd give it more time. Where there other reasons you moved than just the schools? I wouldn't be too worried about the Ofsted. If they were outstanding before the quality of teaching is probably still and they mishandled a safeguarding which while bad, can be easily rectified with improved training/oversight. Maybe reevaluate in a year once you've given the new school and area a good go.

Thanks, Yes we know and love the area from ten years ago but had to move because of work. It's just hard when you've tried to do the best for your kids whilst missing your support network, only to find it hasn't paid off

OP posts: