to have rung OFSTED and complained about them??

[lottiejenkins]

My ds goes to a residential boarding school in Kent, three hours from where we live. OFSTED sent me a form/questionaire this morning. They have asked that it is returned by 1pm tomorrow (they are inspecting tomorrow and Thursday)I rang them up and asked how most parents were supposed to get the forms back in time. The lady i spoke to said "we expect most parents to bring the forms into school tomorrow"!!??!!
I then asked her how 90% of parents were supposed to do this when their children are weekly boarders? She had to admit then that i had a point! I am lucky that i have a fax machine so was able to fax the papers this afternoon. I know OFSTED can't give a lot of warning but surely there must be some way round this. I have emailed them to follow up my complaint and copied in the schools head and deputy. Depending on what they say in response i am thinking of contacting the Department of Education. They are not going to get a balanced view of the school from the parents perspective if they cant get the forms back!!!

bump

I dont see why it matters if they get the forms before or after the inspection?

They'll get the forms back eventually, won't they? OK they were being a bit thick assuming every school is a day school. Don't see why you're making a big deal out of, to be honest.

They say in their letter that they will consider forms that arrive during the inspection!!!

they should offer to email the forms.

Poncey - the forms are sent to Ofsted, not to the school

Well, they'll just have to consider them after the inspection, won't they!!!!! Inspector arrives and finds no forms returned they're going to know something's gone awry with the admin. Really, I think you're overreacting.

i think

I can see why you are making a deal of it. OFSTED need to change their systems obviously, as these inspections are more crucial for boarding schools. (It wasn't that long ago that almost every boarding school was failing their statutory duty in one way or another.)

Also if concerns were highlighted on said form how are they supposed to investigate them if they receive the forms after the inspection. Considering how vulnerable boarders are I find it shocking and can see why you're cross.

They need the forms as they make a difference to the grading the school is given.
They generally let the head know (whether officially or not im not sure)before they leave.

They need to change their system for borders as that's ridiculous.

They can't consider them after the inspection because before they leave the school, they read the report draft out to the head and Governors...the report is normally typed out and officially given to the head along with the grading within a week.

As an aside, my son's school is not a bording school...has 600 pupils and only Nine questionaires were handed in by parents

Thanks for your comments!!!

Just to follow up on this......... School are very happy i contacted Ofsted. Ofsted went in and remarked that they had had corespondence regarding the lack of time to fill in parental forms and they had extended this. They have also responded to my email and forwarded it to Ofsted complaints!!

If this is the biggest problem in you're life then you're lucky! Jeez

Errrrrrrr..... I didnt say it was the biggest problem in my life!!! I just wanted to draw Ofsteds attention to a problem that they have!! Believe me i have far bigger problems than this!!!