Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To choose a requires improvement primary over an outstanding one (Balfour / Downs infant)

25 replies

Thericketyfence · 05/07/2018 17:03

As my very long subject says really.......: we are in the catchment for Balfour primary and Downs infant school, Brighton. Balfour has just been ofsteded as needs improvement but Downs is outstanding (quite a few years ago ofsted). We loved Balfour when looking around and it's nearer but am very very worried about specifically choosing a school that requires improvement, especially when we have the option of an outstanding, albeit a dated ofsted. Aibu to choose it? What would you do? Anyone know of these schools? I am very anxious about getting this right for a number of reasons and feel a lot of pressure. Thanks v much in advance, all replied very much appreciated.

OP posts:
IchFliegeNach · 05/07/2018 17:11

As a teacher, I wouldn't send my child to a school which is RI (and I work in one!).

Perhaps if my DC had SEN and the school was known to be very skilled in this area, but RI in others, then it would be a consideration.

Just my opinion x

MyMuffLooksLikeABeard · 05/07/2018 17:14

I know the schools fairly well OP. When is your DC due to start?

ToTheCrystalDome · 05/07/2018 17:16

Wow, I’m shocked (and saddened) to hear that about Balfour - my old school! For years afterwards it was always a very popular, oversubscribed school which I understand had to reduce its catchment area to help meet the demand.

That said, if I was still in Brighton and had the choice, I wouldn’t send my DC there if it needs improvement.

pitterpatterrain · 05/07/2018 17:19

I don’t know the schools in question

When did it get RI?

We will be sending our DD to a primary that got it maybe 2 years ago, and has massively changed and improved since then. Albeit most of their improvement efforts seem focused on early years (although that might just be my impression) - so for entry to reception it seems pretty fine

Original poster
Thericketyfence · 05/07/2018 17:20

Thank you very much everyone. Due to start 2019. The other school (Downs) last ofsted was 2013.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thericketyfence · 05/07/2018 17:21

It got RI this year and it was a big shock to everyone, it is the school everyone wants.

OP posts:
derekthe1adyhamster · 05/07/2018 17:21

Wow. My kids are at Varndean now. I'm shocked about Balfour. It won't stay like that for long, the parents are way too MC Grin.
If you like Balfour go for it. Mine went to Downs but there area is so affluent there won't be a problem. Personally, I wasn't impressed by downs juniors, I felt it rested on its reputation too much and neither of my children thrived but for different reasons.

Original poster
Thericketyfence · 05/07/2018 17:23

Haha! Yes, it's very middle class! Did you think Downs was good? Thanks!

OP posts:
JustVent · 05/07/2018 17:23

Most of my friends kids went to Downs and speak very highly of it.

In my opinion, when you get a parent who’s child is been all the way through the years and has another one in the school and still speaks highly of it, that speaks more volume than anything else.

I know nothing of Balfour through.

Our local school was Fairlight with the mums having fist fights in the play ground. Suffice to say I moved to a different catchment area to avoid that....

Original poster
Thericketyfence · 05/07/2018 17:25

Thank you, yes everyone seems to rate Downs highly. But it's last ofsted was 2013... what if it's next one ends up being RI ?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Thericketyfence · 05/07/2018 17:26

Oh yes, visited fairlight a lot for work, at the time was a problem with mums coming into the playground smoking!

OP posts:
MyMuffLooksLikeABeard · 05/07/2018 17:31

I think a lot of changes will happen at Balfour between now and when your DC starts.

OlennasWimple · 05/07/2018 17:35

How have the governing body responded to the RI? If they have gone on the defensive and are claiming that Ofsted have got it all wrong, I'd be wary. If they have come out and said that they recognise the issues idenitfied and are putting an action plan in place with the hope of having an early re-inspection to get out of RI, then that is very promising

CruCru · 05/07/2018 17:40

This is an interesting thread. I grew up in Brighton (but didn’t go to either school). I have just had a look at the Ofsted for Balfour and the main reasons it has got RI were:

  • disadvantaged pupils make slower progress than their peers;
  • the most able are sometimes not challenged enough in lessons; and
  • pupils with SEN don’t make enough progress.

However, the rest of the Ofsted makes it sound like a really nice school, committed to pupils’ wellbeing and with lots going on.

I’m not sure whether the Ofsted from five years ago is necessarily as relevant (but still may give you an idea of what it is like, especially if the senior management team are the same).

Are you sure you’ll get into both? Friends who still live in Brighton make it sound as though getting into primary schools is really uncertain.

JustVent · 05/07/2018 17:51

That’s a good point.

I was physically closer to Elm Grove School, yet we got Fairlight. We had absolutely lo choice in the matter.

Original poster
Thericketyfence · 05/07/2018 18:06

Thank you, really helpful! The response has been on of shock and an absolute commitment to improve, no saying it's wrong, just saying they have a clear plan to move forward etc. We are in catchment for both, should get in hopefully. We are 0.1 miles from Balfour and about 0.6 to Downs ish. Thanks again for all your help. I guess there is the option of private school, Brighton and hove prep looks amazing but soooooo expensive!

OP posts:
derekthe1adyhamster · 06/07/2018 09:17

Whatever Ofsted say, I think I you'll be fine with either of the schools. No need to pay for primary if you are within the catchment area for Balfour.
I bet B&H high are crap with disadvantaged children too 😀
Downs junior were rubbish with high achieving pupils and one of my boys made no progress between yr 2 and yr 5,
The fact there is a plan in place should make you feel better

malfoyy · 06/07/2018 09:21

My DS school got RI in November - but this was mostly based on the old head who had been let go in the summer hols. School was already on the up.

Some friends who had been v smug about it as their child was at outstanding school (last Ofsted had been years ago) are now eating their words as that school is was inspected a few weeks ago and is now RI.

I'd go with the school you liked best.

waterrat · 17/12/2018 06:51

@Thericketyfence or anyone else on here - any news of what happened to Balfour?

I have the same question - looks like a lovely school but people have told me to avoid because of RI

Canibuildasnowman · 17/12/2018 06:58

I know both schools well and kids that go there, they are both excellent schools, well loved and respected by parents. Have a look around and choose the one you like the best. It’s a schock thatbitnneeds improving and I doubt it’ll take long to get it up to scratch!

Canibuildasnowman · 17/12/2018 07:01

You have no need of private primary in Brighton! The state primaries like Stanford, Downs, Balfour and Brunswick are at least as good or better than any of the private ones! I know families who’s children go all over Brighton and Hove and most are really happy with their school...

PurpleFlower1983 · 17/12/2018 07:05

It depends why it’s RI. Scrutinise the report.

Isleepinahedgefund · 17/12/2018 07:25

Based on what I know about the reasons why Balfour is RI, I think you'll be fine going for either school.

Balfour's problem seems to revolve around funding and resources (like all schools) rather than actual bad things happening.

I think they are also suffering because of the drop in birth rate and lack of children to fill up the places, I think they started this year with significantly less kids in reception than usual although I've also heard that this was planned rather than just not getting enough applications. Lots of schools are having this problem.

Friends with kids at Balfour have kept them there, there hasn't been a mass exodus and the parents are very supportive of the staff. This counts for a lot - people want the school to succeed.

Downs is a truly lovely school by the way.

Mrscog · 17/12/2018 07:30

I’m not Brighton but sent my DS to an RI primary, it’s since been reinspected as good. It’s an amazing school all the children seem so happy and included. No homework except reading for KS1, play based reception, lots of music. I am overjoyed with the school.

Remember ofsted is an inspection for the state not for parents - go on instinct.

swingofthings · 17/12/2018 07:39

When I moved with my OH, I assumed my kids would get a place in our local primary. They didn't as it was oversubscribed and were allocated a school on the other side of town. Our local school was outstanding, the one allocated was enquiring Improvement. We came from a very school so was quite horrified. Still we went and visited the allocated school and really liked it. In the end, I decided to give it a go and my was this the right decision! Allocated scho replaced the Headteacher with a new one who was amazing and turns things around in no time. DS left with level 6 in English in Maths.

I'm the meantime, parents started to complain about local school, then Headteacher left, replaced by a bad one and next Ofsted went into Requiring Improvement. DS started Year 7 in local secondary and those who's come from his school seem to adjust much better. That's in a locality only a few miles from you!

Go with your gut feeling.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page