To think if a school is put in Special Measures then the Head needs to recognise there's a problem?

[SpecialMeasuresWoe]

Dds secondary school has been put in special measures. No surprise to me, her education has been horrific.

School got an inadequate in every category. Then put in special measures rather than requires improvement which according to Ofsted is done if they feel the head, senior team and governers don't recognise the issues or don't know how to move forward.

So far the deputy head has taken an assembly where he's told the kids that there's nothing wrong with the school, that it's a good school, that they're not going to let seven strangers tell us it's not a good school, etc.

And now a letter from the head saying that they're shocked and disappointed, that they disagree with the findings, etc!

The school is in the bottom ten percent of schools nationwide for progress and results. Secondary school by the way. Gcse results are dismal. Only thirty five percent of kids leave with five GCSEs.

I'm concerned they don't realise there's a problem, how can they improve if they refuse to accept something is wrong!

No other local schools are using the same English exam board, so different texts.

Looks like ofsted will return 3-6 months after the inspection. Which will be in the next 1-4 months as the actual inspection was 2 months ago, report only just out.

Ofsted will be back shortly to conduct a monitoring visit, and they will issue a letter regarding how well the school is progressing on addressing the points of concern identified in the recent inspection.

It's not true that the Secretary of State can dismiss the head, as they have no direct power to do so. If the headteacher is found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the NCTL teacher discipline panel the SoS can issue a Prohibition Order barring the head from working in schools. That is an extremely rare event (and even then technically it's the governing body that actually dismisses).

In normal times you could write to your MP about this, but as we are in the run up to a General Election, I'm sorry to say that I wouldn't bother.

You could write to the academy trust setting out your concerns and asking for their action plan to address the issues raised by Ofsted. You could also write to the relevant Regional Schools Commissioner to raise your concerns (though a school in SM should be on their radar already)

I would seriously look into changing schools and getting a tutor to help fill in the gaps / cover the other texts. But quickly, before everyone else starts to jump ship....

Seriously, I'd move her and cram the new texts over the summer - there must be revision guides you can get and it sounds as though practically anywhere would be better.

Op what year is your Dd in? The school sounds awful and if she's able to move I would move her. Even if the head gets removed and things start to change it will be gradual. This report will also put people off sending their kids there which will affect the school income and good teachers won't want to apply for jobs at a bad school with no money and an unpopular head. Sorry to make it sound so bleak but from what you've described this is a pretty dreadful school and your daughter (and all the other kids there but not much you can do about that) deserve better.

Do write to governors as well though. I am sure they will act I just think it won't have an immediate impact.

Giddy aunt, that's bad. Any downward change in grade should provoke a massive overhaul of approach in the GB, so I'm amazed that this is the response to a SM judgement.

I don't think it's too late to change schools. However, I can only imagine you don't have anywhere else to send her or you would have moved her years ago.

Since my last post I have seen what you have said about her English texts the thing is if she has had five English teachers and the class is so disruptive that a teacher walked out in tears she is unlikely to have been taught the texts effectively anyway. If you enrol her in a new school before the hols she can spend summer reading the texts and the york notes etc in preparation. Then when at the school she just needs to take up every revision class/ offer of extra support. If the school is good and your daughter is hardworking she can pull it off in a full academic year. If you have the finances could you pay for a tutor, even just a few sessions to get her up to speed with the texts?

I have assumed she is in year 10

I know that moving a child of that age is tough on the child, but is there any chance you could team up with the parents of a few of her friends and plan to take them out en-masse, and transfer them all to another local school? That is presuming the secondary schools in your area are not oversubscribed and have places in the year group, which might be a rather big presumption

The person you probably need to be contacting is the local Regional Schools Commissioner. This is a DfE appointee. They are the ones who essentially decide what happens to the school now. Where an academy has been deemed to require SM it may be transferred to another academy trust. That is providing someone is willing to take it over. It gets a bit trickier if the school is really unattractive/ geographically isolated, and/ or has financial problems etc.

If she can't move to another school, how about an online school?

Eg www.interhigh.co.uk/

It's not cheap though:
www.interhigh.co.uk/fees/

I wonder if the local educational authority might pay them in these circumstances...

It's not cheap though:
www.interhigh.co.uk/fees/

I wonder if the local educational authority might pay them in these circumstances...

Why is she still there, OP? Is there really no other option?

The school and the governors might just be putting a positive spin on it but below the surface they'll have to be making changes. Pretty much every school who goes into a category will send a letter out that's overtly positive but it doesn't mean there won't be change.

Not a chance the lea will pay any fees.

The head sounds like the violinist on the Titanic.

I was going to ask if you are in Willenhall, but then you said it isn't a chain.

It's not too late to change school if another has a place, for ebacc, attainment 8 etc she only needs GCSE English Language as long as she sits a literature paper.

Unless she is planning to do English A Level think about moving her.

From what the OP has said about her English lessons I doubt this school has prepared DD well for English A Level. Even if she wanted to do the A Level she would surely be better off at a decent school for the next year trying to catch up.

As the parent it's your responsibility to ensure your child receives an adequate and suitable education.
As the school clearly cannot you need to take action.

I would either move her or leave my job/leave of absence or part time if poss and homeschool her. I am not a fan of homeschooling. Quite the opposite but this is serious.
After 8 June you will have a new MP. Try them too.

I do know a school - coasting school with decent intake, reasonable 'top level' grades that disguised lack of progress - that went through this.

First response was 'report is wrong, we're fine'.

Letter after first monitoring visit was absolutely damning, and it was after that point that change really started to happen.

Regarding your daughter, ring all other local schools to see if there are places. there possibly won't be any, but honestly, changing boards at this point is the least worst option. Get a tutor if you don't feel up to teaching her yourself, then be prepared for both of you to work harder than you ever have before.

Yes, the next 12 months will be very hard work BUT it seems to me that is the only course of action that is likely to give your DD any stab at decent grades.