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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be crying at the Ofsted report just published for my DS school?

112 replies

babyno5 · 25/06/2018 19:53

I opposed the conversion to academy status for this very reason. The pressure of that opposition made me many enemies and resulted in me having a breakdown and exactly as I feared they have now been graded “requires improvement”
Feel absolutely heartbroken 😢

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 25/06/2018 19:56

A breakdown and heartbroken? Sounds rather too dramatic. What are the issues? How happy or not is your child? Are they making progress?
OFSTED can provide useful information to help judge a school but they are by far the only criteria I would use.

OlennasWimple · 25/06/2018 19:56

You'll have to spell out what has happened in a bit more detail but Flowers anyway - it's always hard when things we care about go through difficult times

NotAnotherJaffaCake · 25/06/2018 20:00

An academy near me has had more than 50% of its schools inspected under the 2015 Ofsted framework graded Requires Improvement or worse. So many of them have declined under Academy management. So much for school improvement....

I don’t blame you for being upset, but how badly are your children affected?

Original poster
babyno5 · 25/06/2018 20:01

Sorry I know it sounds dramatic but I headed up the opposition campaign with another mum-community meetings, petitions, outed MP for lying ( yes I know that’s how most of them operate!), received hate messages and had a breakdown with month in the Priory and a year off work.
Today they published the first Ofsted report since then.
DS not desperately unhappy but not achieving anywhere near his potential. He’s the 4th of my 5 children to go through and have to think fast what to do for daughter as she has one more year at junior.
I did want to be proved wrong in my opposition

OP posts:
somewhereovertherain · 25/06/2018 20:03

To be fair Ofsted is a load of bollocks. Really wouldn’t loose sleep over it.

Disabrie22 · 25/06/2018 20:07

I know some people will probably say you are being overdramatic but I wish all parents were as invested as you. I often wish parents would be more proactive - I’d be the same OP - I do everything I can in the limited time to help my children’s school be as successful as it can.

SugarIsAmazing · 25/06/2018 20:10

You got sectioned over a school? Wow, you must feel very strongly about it!
My childrens school became an academy and then required improvements but it's nownow back up to good again.

Original poster
babyno5 · 25/06/2018 20:10

Thanks disabrie22 I think it just brought back all the pain of the breakdown too.
It’s hard enough for kids these days that they need to be given the best chance at school. I don’t just mean academically. To have fun and enjoy themselves along the way xx

OP posts:
Original poster
babyno5 · 25/06/2018 20:11

No sugarisamazing I was NOT sectioned but yes I did have a breakdown

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 25/06/2018 20:14

That's a very extreme reaction to a school becoming an academy. I understand you didn't feel it was best for the school or students but that seems totally OTT and over invested.
Address individual issues with the school. Iisten to how they say they plan to do better

HandPickedEklderflower · 25/06/2018 20:14

What does the report say are the key areas for improvement?

Anon12345ABC · 25/06/2018 20:16

I don't feel to your extent at all but I hate the way schools are going. I see zero improvement for these academies and schools under a MAT. We've just lost loads of funding due to the shit schools in our MAT utterly failing so they've taken funding from the good schools to give to the rubbish schools, hence meaning the former good schools will end up failing due to lack of funds and staff.

I'm jumping ship tbh. Eldest doesn't have much longer left but I can get my youngest out now. I've been disillusioned with potential not being reached anyway and this is the final straw. It's sad and crap as youngest is happy there.

GreenGlassLove · 25/06/2018 20:16

My DS went to a school that was rated 'requires improvements', best school he went to. I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

caroldecker · 25/06/2018 20:17

It is not just moving to an academy which has changed the school. What has got worse and what was its previous rating?

Original poster
babyno5 · 25/06/2018 20:17

Overall effectiveness, quality of treaching and Outcomes for pupils. I would regard these as the fundamentals handpickedeklderflower

OP posts:
PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 25/06/2018 20:18

Crikey

Original poster
babyno5 · 25/06/2018 20:20

It’s the effect of 3 years as an academy. They cannot retain quality teachers. My DD has 11 English teachers in 2 years. It’s nothing short of a miracle she achieved A* at GCSE

OP posts:
Original poster
babyno5 · 25/06/2018 20:21

They had an amazing Headteacher for years who cared deeply for every pupil. He was ousted when he disagreed with the school moving towards being an academy

OP posts:
lozster · 25/06/2018 20:23

I was going to pop on and say I felt a bit gutted when my kids nursery was graded requires improvements in week 2 of him being there but that it turned out I don’t value what ofsted did... however, I now see the background and I fear this is not the case for you. I really feel for you. Being the figure head in a campaign is draining. It sounds like you walked the walk and I hope you can feel some pride in that.

FloraHiggins · 25/06/2018 20:23

11 teachers in 2 years sounds awful.

Thesearepearls · 25/06/2018 20:26

Look old thing - this is batshit crazy - you do not have a breakdown and months in the priory over an ofsted report.

If you don't think the school is good - move the kids or find a way of paying for extra tutoring.

You are not being balanced or rational at all. You need to step away from this and do something that will be better for you.

Original poster
babyno5 · 25/06/2018 20:28

Thanks lozster. I so wish they had proved me wrong and all my earlier fears were unfounded.
Contemplating running away to the outer Hebrides lol xx

OP posts:
Ohmydayslove · 25/06/2018 20:28

Honestly op I think your mental health and anxiety would cause far more worry and stress for your kids then a poor ofsted report.

Get yourself well first. You are taking this too much to heart and I talk as like you having 6 kids and seeing schools literally go from outstanding to needs improvement in 2 years.

I know it’s hard but either see how it pans out or can you move him?

babyno5 · 25/06/2018 20:29

This reply has been deleted

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Verbena37 · 25/06/2018 20:30

Our secondary had its first ofsted since changing to two tier and becoming an academy (all at the same time).

The ofsted was awful. Basically, regardless of teaching etc, it stated straight out that the academy had done nothing to support the school in ANY are of the curriculum or being managed.

That report came out in January....dd just done her GCSES. We have employed two tutors for sciences and DH and I helped her revise all subjects. She is a hard worker so hopefully it will have all paid off and she will get her needed grades.

It takes a lot of things to change when every area says ‘needs improvement’.

Hope you feel better about your kids school and I hope they make drastic changes to better the outcomes.