School in special measures

[stayorgonow]

My DD's (8yrs) school has just been put into special measures, after a dreadful Ofsted report, where everything, except safeguarding, was deemed inadequate.

I don't know whether to pull her out, if it is even possible, or hope for the best.

Three years ago it was deemed good, with outstanding parts, since then the headteacher went on maternity leave, then the assistant head. They both came back, and are both back on maternity leave now - so the problem seems to be four lots of maternity leave in three years, of the most senior members of SLT.

An excutive head was brought in from a nearby school in September, but that still didn't stop the Ofsted report in October (only just released).

The report mentions tumultuos leadership, inadequate teaching, children failing to leave with the required standard of maths and english, some children (particularly SEN) causing severe disruptions in class, causing distractions to other pupils. Ineffective governors who seem to be oblivious to the failures.

How this impacts my child; she has always been top. This academic year she has been suffering, and has been coming home very aggressive and started to hate school.

She has 6 SEN in her class. All but two are behaving (there are several more children without SEN who also misbehave).

She's been sitting next to one of the ones who doesn't behave. He's been scribbling over her work, talking to her, so when she asks him to be quiet they both get into trouble. Last incident - she wrote out the answers to a sheet on a wipeboard, and he rubbed it out. She was punished for not doing it. She came home crying, saying she didn't want to go in anymore. I wrote to her teacher and was told that she knew there was an issue and would monitor it (DD already had run ins with him, pushing her out line, pushing her over, taking her things, and I'd been called into school about it, but it seems they now link a naughty child with a good one).

All in all I'm worried. We live in a wholly selective area, and she will be taking her 11+ in two years, the school we are in catchment for if she fails is a rubbish school.

She's in year 4. There is a meeting, but I don't know what to ask, or whether to try to find somewhere else (bearing in mind that looking on the Council's site there are no vacancies.

I wouldn't discount schools on SATs alone, classroom behaviour management is a key issue here. If DD is academically able, being in a safer environment will probably mean she is more motivated. I'd try and find out from parents who have children at local schools what they think. It's worth checking the Ofsted Parent View - Ofsted Lurve the management at my DC primary, but 90% at the school said they did not think the school was well led/managed.

Thanks Dobbins, the other school had it's report this year, and is consistently good, and parents love it.

I've found out that to apply to other schools, I need to fill in a transfer form from the current school, which after I've filled in, the curren headteacher then completes. This really worries me, firstly I didn't want to talk to the school about leaving, secondly I doubt the acting HT will have time (experience as I've tried to see her before a few times).

Raise at the meeting lack of executive head availability and what they will do about it.

If you decide on a transfer, I'd first try and get an appt. If no joy, I'd find out what day she's on site, clear my diary and say you will sit and wait. Its not an easy conversation but I very much doubt you'll be the only parent changing. Some times you just have to be "that" parent.

@DobbinsVeil thank you so much x