To remove daughter from school after appalling OFSTED

[revoveryishard]

My daughter school hasn't been meeting my expectation for some time. Awful communication, high staff turnover, inconsistent homework, not help available when she was falling behind in year 2, not checking staff therefore employing a known paedophile who was caught taking photos of reception children. I could go on!

OFSTED report has now been released and the school are inadequate in all areas putting the school into the special measures category. My main concerns are that the safety of children is not satisfactory, the employment process and pupil premium scheme are not fit for purpose. Teaching is appalling, huge gaps in the curriculum, children lack enthusiasm, staff moral is low. I work in schools and have never seen anything so awful!!

I don't know what to do, I wanted to move her when the paedophile story came out but my ex is religious and this is a religious school so he wanted to keep her there. I have sent him the report and said we need to discuss as a matter of urgency.

They give the school 2 years to turn it around but by then my eldest will be in year 5 and my youngest about to start reception. Year 5 will be too late to move her Altho I could send my son elsewhere.

It's worth mentioning that their last OFSTED was outstanding!!

Help me Mumsnetters, what would you do?? Move or see if it improves??

I'd have moved ages ago.

I would move mine

The Ofsted report is pretty irrelevant at this point I feel, and I would absolutely 100% move, now.

Having worked in a lovely school who got a poor Ofsted, I don't put much faith in their reports. However, it sounds like you have numerous concerns yourself and that the Ofsted report is in line with your experience.

I would look for another school.

My son's primary was a bit rubbish but he did great.

Special measures means a load of resources for the school. Can be a good thing! Is your childd happy there?

Your child’s needs come before your ex’s religious requirements. (Or if it’s that important find another, better religious school). I would move my child if I were in your position.

I think the OFSTED report is irrelevant but the fact they ate not safeguarding the children and all your other concerns i would move my kids

Ofsted tends to mean nothing to me.

However, the school sounds horrific so I would definitely move her.

I actually think an Ofsted report of inadequate is worrying. If it was 'requires improvement' in a couple of areas then okay, but inadequate is pretty hard to get. The same as 'good' being more than acceptable but not a good indicator of anything other than them performing well on the day. 'Outstanding' however would be a pretty good indicator of a very good school.

This paired with your concerned previously I would absolutely move. Maybe even would have moved already...

I'd be looking elsewhere, to be honest. In the meantime though (as these things could take ages), have the school released an action plan or had meetings with the parents as to what they intend to do to get it sorted? With timescales and responsibilities for each area?

Has there been a new HT there since the outstanding grade was given, or is this one of the schools that got left alone for so many years due to the grade and wasn't re-inspected?

Bad luck OP, tricky one, especially with the religious aspect of it.

So she’s in Year 3 now?

Y3, start of Juniors...it’s a good time to move imo.

I would spend a few weeks looking at alternatives and move her after October half term.

Yes moving her is what I want to do but she has had a rough couple of years with me and her dad splitting, moving house and me having a breakdown and being quite ill. I'm just worried she won't cope with the change.

Yes they have had several interim heads in the last year as the last head just left last summer!

I will go to the meeting tonight and speak to exh but I think it's time to move her. Just hope I can get her a place elsewhere as I think everyone will be moving!

I would move heaven and earth to one my child from that school. They employed a paedophile who was found taking pictures of 4-5 year olds?!

Just saw your update OP - sounds like a tough time for all of you. If I had concerns about my child's safety I'd probably move them. It might be that the school now improves but that could take years. Do you have another school in mind?

Yes I have 2 schools in mind, one of which I have worked in and is lovely.

She is a very sensitive girl and I am worried about her mental health already but I think that the state of the school outweighs this. I already asked the school for counselling for her and that has also been ignored! My son also has speech delay and if he hasn't caught up by then will need a school with strong SEN leadership- the current school basically has none and they aren't even aware of some needs- I'm sure my daughter has dyslexia and again this hasn't been mentioned. I know it sounds absolutely horrific but I'm cautious as I was moved at that age and bullied until I left secondary school and it has affect my whole life. I don't want that for her 🙄

How on earth is a bad OFSTED the nail in the proverbial coffin over the paedophile?

I'd be getting the fuck out before the academy chains start sniffing around. Moved mine from a school I just was not comfortable with various aspects of and no regrets.

OP you really need to move her. I totally understand your concerns but I think allowing her to continue in her current chaotic school without sufficient support will be far more detrimental.

Obviously you're nervous given your past experience but it's unlikely to be an issue. Kids move schools all the time and in a well run primary school bullying won't be tolerated.

If the Ofsted is simply confirming what you already knew then move. However you may find you are now jostling for places elsewhere with other worried parents. Don't move based on Ofsted alone, there will be radical changes and funding to address the issues flagged but it will take time to turn it around. If you fundamentally like the school it might be beneficial to stick it out.

I wanted to move her but my ex threatened me with court and I couldn't afford to fight him. I'm hoping he now will see sense. I have made an appointment to go and see a school next week.

That's the thing tho, now they are in special measures they will throw everything at it but I don't think it will be enough or in time to help my children. I am upset as her teachers have been lovely and I thought I was sending her to an outstanding school- how it has failed son miserably in the last few years is beyond me!

Meeting at school answered no questions about how they were going to improve things. Made me even more sure I need to move her. Exh still being a dick and refuses to talk to me about it until the weekend. If it wasn't a catholic school he wouldn't even consider keeping her there. I am 100% moving her and if he wants to fight me he can but I don't think he has a leg to stand on!

I won’t put that much faith in the ofsted report although I would have massive concerns regarding the safe guarding issues

not checking staff therefore employing a known paedophile who was caught taking photos of reception children.

This is the point you should have moved her.

but my ex is religious and this is a religious school so he wanted to keep her there.

WTAF.

I'm just worried she won't cope with the change.

She would cope with a change better than potential abuse FFS.

I know it sounds absolutely horrific

It is, get her out!

Move now no matter what the teachers hear are saying they no deep down they wouldn’t take a job in a failing school it’s likey their is in fighting bad feeling and their will start to be and exodus of staff take her out this week

i would have moved her the moment the pedophile was found out. What are you waiting for?