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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To report our neighbours to Ofsted?

53 replies

Allfednonedead · 09/03/2018 14:11

We live next to a school. I'm pretty sure it's not registered (doesn't show up on Ofsted website if I search our postcode).
It's a religious school, with boys from about 8 to teens, and they are a complete pain in the arse as neighbours. Always noisy, children playing outside late in the evening unsupervised, occasionally having religious festivals with amplified music outdoors till middle of the night. They do no property maintenance, which means it looks hideous, but also might be damaging for our property as it is a terrace (we're end-of-terrace).
The latest amusement for the boys seems to be throwing glass bottles from windows and roof into the concrete backyard.
I also know one of our other neighbours, a lovely woman in her 80s, has been on the receiving end of racist abuse from the boys.
I am considering emailing Ofsted about the situation, because the boys are so little supervised, I seriously concerned for their safety. I'm also not at all convinced they are getting a reasonable education.
Would this be reasonable?
I'm worried I'm being spiteful because they are such a pain to live next door too. Also because the masters in charge will literally not speak to or look at me if I do try to engage because I'm a woman. This really winds me up!

OP posts:

Sirzy · 09/03/2018 14:13

I would contact the local education authority they should know if it is a registered school and what to do next

JennyOnAPlate · 09/03/2018 14:13

How many kids are we talking about? Your post makes it sound like they're in house, is that right?

Finola1step · 09/03/2018 14:14

Yes, contact Ofsted and the education department of your local authority.

blueskyinmarch · 09/03/2018 14:15

How many children? Do they all live in the school? Sounds very weird and cultish.

AlonsoTigerHeart · 09/03/2018 14:15

Police for the glass and racist abuse

Original poster

Allfednonedead · 09/03/2018 14:25

I don't think it's a boarding school, although they are often there very late at night. I've always assumed that's to do with religious ceremonies or something.
Our authority has a separate educational trust - I'll check with them, but I'm pretty certain it's not registered.
The racist abuse is not my issue, but I'm pretty sure the neighbour in question has it under control. She's fab.
How is the glass breaking a police issue? It's in their own property. It's shit, and it must make their backyard unuseable, but surely that's their problem? It's only because a) it woke me up at 2 in the morning and b) it can't be safe for the children, that I'm doing more than sucking my teeth in disapproval at it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Allfednonedead · 09/03/2018 14:27

Sorry, more questions: jenny, I'm not sure how many children there are because it's different age groups. There might be 20 under tens and 40 teens? It's two four-storey terraced houses, and it's also used as a religious venue.

OP posts:

Sirzy · 09/03/2018 14:33

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/education-36302054 That’s a slightly out of date article but does sound very similar to what you are describing.

Original poster

Allfednonedead · 09/03/2018 14:34

Sirzy, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about. There are a lot of them in our area - I'm trying to work out if it is reasonable to report them to Ofsted or if I should just live and let live.

OP posts:

Sirzy · 09/03/2018 14:36

I am very much of the view that if you think something isn’t right it’s better to report and be proven wrong than not report and be proven right. Contact the authorities and then they can decide if it is something that needs acting on or not

DrEustaciaBenson · 09/03/2018 14:40

Report. There was quite a long article on the BBC website recently about how ofsted are trying to crack down on unregistered schools, due to safeguarding and H&S concerns. I'll try to find it.

It might be helpful if you keep a note of when the boys are there, as it has to be more than a certain number of hours a week to count as a 'school' and therefore ofsted's responsibility.

BackforGood · 09/03/2018 14:40

If you make the call, then you know you have done all you can.
If you make the call and it is investigated and found to be fine and not an issue, nothing lost. If they find there are concerns you will have saved a child from an awful experience.

CrispsForTea · 09/03/2018 14:41

Judging by the article linked to by a PP, I would report it. Not only is it a nuisance to you (and others on the street, I would assume), it's probably very unsafe for the children who attend.

However, do you own your house? I know very little about what exactly you have to disclose when selling a house, but it's something worth thinking about as well. I've seen posts re noise complaints on here and people have said that if you open a case with the council then you would have to disclose that when selling your house.

KatieHaslam22 · 09/03/2018 14:43

Are you sure it’s a school? Could it be a children’s home?

Littlefish · 09/03/2018 14:43

Contact Ofsted and the Local Authority Education team. These children sound like they are not being kept in safe conditions. If the school is not registered, then no-one is checking whether what these children are being taught is appropriate, or even legal.

EssentialHummus · 09/03/2018 14:43

Report. It makes me sad as a a Jew that there are Jewish "schools" like this; and it's an equally big issue in Muslim communities in the UK.

gillybeanz · 09/03/2018 14:43

It's the Police you need, not ofsted.
Do you know for sure it's a school?

UrsulaPandress · 09/03/2018 14:44

There were news reports recently on the BBC about similar religious schools. There was video of a child being manhandled by an adult and others cowering away from staff.

I think you should definitely report it.

crunchymint · 09/03/2018 14:46

Of course you need to report it. It sounds a dangerous environment for kids.

ASDismynormality · 09/03/2018 14:46

After reading the article linked to above I would definitely report for the safety of the children.

DancingLedge · 09/03/2018 14:47

Report for the children's sake.

Unregistered schools usually have no child safeguarding, and no screening of adults.

Don't hesitate to report.

Ivymaud · 09/03/2018 14:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DrEustaciaBenson · 09/03/2018 14:49

Here's one recent BBC article:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-43170447

If you search 'unregistered school' on the BBC news website, others will come up.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 09/03/2018 14:50

Please do report it to Ofsted. Schools like this are unsafe on every level - physical surroundings, curriculum, values imparted, qualifications and supervision of staff, inappropriate if not illegal forms of discipline, poor educational outcomes for the children, no effort to ensure the children integrate into UK society, and so on, and so forth. They should be shut down. It amazes me that any parent would send their child to a school like this, but I saw that BBC report recently too, and they do. Poor kids. In your case, poor you and poor neighbours too.

bobstersmum · 09/03/2018 14:52

Definitely report it, has it always been like this? Or has this place just popped up? Sounds very weird and not right at all

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