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AIBU?

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Original poster

To remove daughter from school after appalling OFSTED

68 replies

revoveryishard · 20/09/2018 08:55

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??

OP posts:
meditrina · 20/09/2018 20:42

Do bear in mind that a number of families might be seeking to move their DC after a report like this, so you may need to move quickly or else younrsk any vacancies being filled before you get your application in.

pouraglasshalffull · 20/09/2018 20:46

Please don't judge a school based on their pupil premium resources the money they get from PP often makes up just 1% of the budget, its a silly bureaucracy thing just for higher up people to show they're doing something. The money schools get from this is often so minimum for these students it actually really doesn't have an impact it just gets absorbed by the rest of the budget

(just so people are aware that the PP statement isn't something to judge a school on) But judging by the rest of your post, yes absolutely move her.

You should've moved her as soon as the paedophile story came alight. There is a huge safe-guarding issue here and there should be some serious investigations into how this happened, along with reviewing every member of staff and their entire system. It sounds like a pretty poor school regardless but the school is not safe for your daughter, end of. Remove her.

pouraglasshalffull · 20/09/2018 20:49

Forgot to add, there will be a lot going on behind the scenes, and I mean a lot. There will be undoubtedly investigations into the school by inside and outside people. There should be a lot of changes being implemented into the school to get it out of special measures. Probably a lot more staff leaving to hopefully make way for better ones. The school should improve in the long-term but there will be a lot of changes in the school and it will be unsettled for a few years. I'm a teacher and I wouldn't allow my daughter to remain in a school that sounds so incompetent. The fact there is a huge staff turnover should be sending alarm bells ringing in your head, something is really wrong with that school

Original poster
revoveryishard · 20/09/2018 20:51

I want to but i need my exh permission. Last time he threatened lawyers and I couldn't afford to fight him. I still can't but I will borrow the money if I have to. It's isn't safe and yes I should have put up a fight and moved her when the paedophile story broke. If it wasn't a catholic school he would have moved her ages ago. He likes to keep up the pretence he's a good catholic boy when in fact he is an abusive, manipulative man who I find very difficult to deal with. I will admit I'm scared to rock the boat with him as he can be extremely nasty but o don't think he can do much to stop me moving her when the school is in such a state?!

OP posts:
FuckADoodleDooA · 20/09/2018 21:03

Represent yourself. No court would allow her to stay there on the basis of your ex's religion when you want her out because of the abuse.

redexpat · 20/09/2018 21:12

Reasons for moving:

  • school cannot keep her safe from pædophiles
  • school has ignored your request for help with her MH
  • you believe that she has dyslexia, but the school havent considered this as a possibility to your knowledge (have you raised this with them?)
  • Awful communication
  • high staff turnover
  • inconsistent homework,
  • no help available when she was falling behind in year 2

Represent yourself in court. Your ex is putting his needs ahead of those of his child.

Neolara · 20/09/2018 21:14

I would definitely move her if you can. Sounds awful. If you do go to court, no judge is going to agree to keep a kid at a school which is inadequate in every category and has serious safeguarding issues.

JynxaSmoochum · 20/09/2018 21:16

There's special measures and special measures. I've worked in special measures or those clinging on to the edge where the ethos of the school and teachers are great but they struggle with data or adjusting to another change of goal posts, but ultimately do a decent job with the kids they have, often in challenging circumstances. Then there are the ones that at best have a thin veneer between them and chaos, unstable and rotten to the core. This sounds like the second type.

In your case, I would be very reluctant to waste essential formative years on waiting to see if an academy chain can genuinely pull off a quick turn around or just be a load of further instability and smoke and mirrors.

Good luck with the ex.

Mishappening · 20/09/2018 21:17

Get her out, and tell your ex to take a running jump.

Normally I would say not to get too overwrought about OfSted; but these failures are about safeguarding - get her out now.

Original poster
revoveryishard · 20/09/2018 21:17

Yes I didn't think any judge would side with him, it's just the battle and animosity I don't want. I want him to realise she needs to be moved because she is suffering, falling behind and is unsafe. But he is a sociopath who loves to control and manipulate me 🙄

OP posts:
RB68 · 20/09/2018 21:20

you need to make a decision asap if ex doesn't agree then get a court order

Murphystrikeback · 20/09/2018 21:20

As others have said, it’s not the ofsted report that would worry me but the massive safeguarding failures. They are what I’d move a child away from.

Original poster
revoveryishard · 20/09/2018 21:31

I have already made my decision, I just have to tell him and hope he doesn't combust! I hate confrontation but it's my baby and I want what's best for her not the image he is trying to uphold by having her stay!

OP posts:
Firsttimer1234 · 20/09/2018 21:34

I've previously be on secondment to two failing schools in the last five years. My advice is, if its the same head and management team then pull your child out. If it's a new head then give them a chance. A new head will bring fresh ideas and is there with the sole purpose to get the school out of special measures. If its the same head as before then you have to question what they can possibly do differently when they've let it get so bad.

Original poster
revoveryishard · 20/09/2018 21:42

It's a new head and deputy. They seem committed but the school has been failing for a while. I worked there last year and they didn't DBS check me even tho I kept asking. I left because staff were nasty and morale was low and the early years leader was horrendous. The safeguarding issue has been addressed and am confident that they have put things in place to correct their mistakes. However the appalling teaching won't be fixed in 18 months, 24 even and by then my daughter will be in year five and that's not a time to move!

OP posts:
VillageCats · 20/09/2018 21:42

Just move her and send him a letter after explaining your reasons why. Let him take you to court. He won't.

Mishappening · 21/09/2018 14:13

I agree with the above - just do it.

Original poster
revoveryishard · 21/09/2018 18:41

I told him today she's moving. He said it's a joint decision, I told him he can't don10% of the parenting and expect to make 50% of the decisions! He said 'I'm leaning towards moving her' I told him we are viewing the new school Tuesday and she will be going there. End of discussion. I've never stood up for myself with him but this time I will!!

OP posts:
Mishappening · 21/09/2018 18:44

Go girl!

MaisyPops · 21/09/2018 18:48

I wouldn't put too much into ofsted reports, but you have concerns about your child's safety. Ultimately it doesn't matter one jot what ofsted Say, if you have serious concerns about your child's safety then I'd move them.

As PP have said, usually following a special measures judgement there's a lot of the more educationally aware parents who will start removing their child so places at other schools end up being taken. (And also means you end up with a cohort remaining often without a top end so to speak. It is an interesting environment at times and not one that's conducive to learning most of the time).

OutPinked · 21/09/2018 18:49

I would have moved mine as soon as I heard they had employed a convicted paedophile.

Rockhopper81 · 21/09/2018 21:47

There’s special measures and special measures.

and

Normally I would say not to get too overwrought about OfSted; but these failures are about safeguarding - get her out now.

Perfectly sum it up for me. A school in Special Measures isn’t always a terrible thing - new ideas, new leadership, regular and thorough monitoring - but it’s the reason that it’s in measures that’s important. If it’s for Safeguarding - and you know it has a massive safeguarding fail against it - then it’s time to look for other options.

A school can occasionally be put into measures for safeguarding because of something small and comparatively stupid - these schools often come out of measures at the first, or very latest second monitoring visit. This school is not one of them - it’s for a very obvious, very serious threat to the well being of the children in the school.

Move now. The inspection was in the summer term, right? Late in the term if you're just being told of the outcome now. They will have a plan, but that’s not important now - protecting your daughter (and son, moving forwards) is. Well done for making the decision to move, but do it as soon as whilst there may still be spaces in surrounding schools.

I hope this all gets sorted quickly for you.

Poodletip · 21/09/2018 21:59

It will improve now but it will take time and it sounds like it really was awful so it's got a long way to go. I'd move her without a doubt.

Umpteenthingsclean · 21/09/2018 22:04

Surely your child's education is more important than your husband's imaginary friend.

Original poster
revoveryishard · 22/09/2018 08:55

Ha yes his imaginary friend! My thoughts exactly, he just doesn't want to give in to me and have me make the decision!

OP posts:
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