To buy a house in an area where the local school was 'requires improvement'

[Maz2444466]

The local primary school in the area we like was 'requires improvement' for several years. It is now 'good' but what concerns me is the reasons it was 'requires improvement' for so long - according to the past ofsteds parents complained about staff not doing anything when other children were bullying their children (particularly at playtimes) and poor behaviour in general. In the most recent ofsted, it says they now have a reflection room where children with behavioural issues can go to chill out and they have learning mentors so they seem to be turning things round. Would the school's history bother you? Or would you think it's just that - history...

I wouldn't be swayed by a ofstead report in the last few years I have learnt that they really mean nothing. I have found it far better to judge a school in visiting it and the vibe. Dc1 is in a school which is currently in special measures but it's fantastic the teachers a great they work really hard and work harder to get the school up to standard. They have a brilliant relationship with the kids and never stop trying. Where as the previous school he was in was classes as an excellent school and to be honest they didn't seem to work no where near as hard. They very much expected every child to be the same. My dc has autism and says things how they are he had difficulty with one teacher as she really struggled to relate to him and his difficulties when my son tried to explain that he struggled with her and wasn't keen on her he was put into detention and time to think. This kind of thing happened often which he resulted him shutting down and his grades suffering. So now I like to visit schools a few times talk to teachers and get a feeling for a place before I decide what's best.

Schools which are RI are under massive scrutiny. If they are at the start of the journey to improvement, it's often a good time to join a school.

Just my opinion and I have no idea if this is true but surely if a school 'requires improvement' it will be doing its best to make those inprovements and would probably welcome new families that want to make that happen.

It required improvement. They improved it. It's now good. That's good, isn't it?

The bullying would bother me. But the steps they have taken to adress it seem adequate.
If I liked the house otherwise, I probably would. Maybe have a chat with the HT about your concerns?

I agree you should go by your instinct when you visit.

The school where I am governor was RI for a while and this was based on the SATs results - everything else was outstanding, but they have to put the school in RI if the prescribed SATs results are not reached - at that time we had 35% SEN in the top year and the children were making brilliant progress ( and were happy!), but not what the government dictates. Added to that the cohorts were tiny (6 - 8 pupils) and not statistically valid - but what the heck, the government cares not one whit about that.

So, as you can see, some of the decision is dictated from above and makes little sense.

BUT - big but - if the issues were around not dealing properly with bullying, then that would ring alarm bells with me. I think you need to go through that OfSted report and look at all the things that really matter to you that the school was unsuccessful at and go in with your bits of paper and say - OK what have you done about that? Do your homework!

Our little school got its GOOD this year; but again it would have been outstanding (every category was) had it not been for the high SEN in the cohort.

It is a lovely happy school that people are falling over themselves to get into; and the parents said they did not give a flier what the OfSted said, they knew it was great!

I think you are better of trusting your own instincts as parents and your knowledge of your children rather than some faceless official who pops in for a day, makes a pronouncement and buggers off over the horizon!

I've worked in an RI school. It was an RI school for years because schools get a reputation - either good or bad- that takes a long time to change. It had to be good for a couple of Ofsteds before public opinion began to change and now it's over subscribed..

I'd look at the reports, but I'd place more emphasis on looking round the school and getting a feel for it, talking to staff and children and seeing how open and direct everyone is.

I loved working in my RI school and I know of outstanding schools where the staff are unhappy and it relies totally on a reputation.