AIBU to be horrified by my kids' school's latest Ofsted and want to shift them asap?

[bundybear]

So, we received the latest Ofsted report for my kids' primary school yesterday. Previously 'good' school, ticking along nicely, lost the head last year and not managed to recruit another so we've had an Executive Head drafted in since Sept. The school has been put in Special Measures, and the report is, shall we say, challenging. There's basically nothing good to be said in any section apart from safeguarding .

We already had a few concerns about a dip in standards after the last head left - bit less discipline, bit of a lack of direction - but not to the extent highlighted in the report. We thought it would be quickish to turn around with the Exec Head.

We moved a year or so ago (only a mile) but didn't shift the kids as we were happy with the school at the time, but now I'm thinking of putting in an in-year application to transfer. Two schools close to us - one is tiny (intake of 15) but within catchment, the other is bigger, but didn't give places to anyone beyond 0.5 miles (we're 0.8 miles away). Both are full so we'd be on a waiting list.

Thoughts about being in a Special Measures school? Remotely likely to get a transfer?

My kids are in Y4 and Y2, and we're applying for DD3's place in January (more dilemmas).

Ofsted reports are not worth the paper they are written on.

Some may not be, others are. I had my doubts of DC school before the Ofsted, but it was a real eye opener to find they hadn't been carrying out DBS checks, only 1/4 of the children passed the YR1 phonics and 0% met the expected standard on KS1 SATs. Not things they generally advertise themselves!

OfSted are very rigid - e.g. the school where I am governor was rated outstanding on everything basically, but because some of the data was below par (high incidence of special ed needs) they have to rate the teaching as less than outstanding, even though their report makes it clear that it is. It really is nonsense.

OP - the only thing that would give me cause for concern is if the general behaviour in school was deteriorating - I think that is a more important indicator of problems than academic data. It alters the working environment quite fundamentally.

I think the general behaviour has deteriorated - I don't think it's extreme yet, but it's not in check the way it was before. Report highlighted 'boisterous' KS2 boys in the playground, food waste all over the floor at dinner time, lack of respect amongst some boys. The school has a higher than average SEN intake and I know the rowdy disruptive boys in DD1's class are SEN. They've had a few TAs off so the disruptive kids are having a greater impact.

Also some of the parents' behaviour leaves a lot to be desired (real mixed bunch of backgrounds but a lot of swearing and clipping round the ear goes on at pick up).

DD1 said her teacher gave her class a long talk about respect for each other and the school this morning but it's going to need a full school approach.