Ofsted - Inadequate

[ShepherdMoons]

Dd has had a lot of problems at her primary school (there are10 children in her year group). We've looked at some other schools for dd and one of them looks much better, it's a larger school and larger class sizes.

She's currently in an outstanding school (Ofsted) and the new school is classed as Inadequate following an inspection in 2020. It's since become an academy and has a new headteacher. The Ofsted is good for behaviour and safeguarding but seems to have inadequate for much of the learning. I know some children at the school in Year 6 and they passed the 11 plus to go to grammar so I know there are children thriving academically.

WWYD regarding the ofsted? Do you think it's still worth moving dd from her current school?

Dd has had a lot of problems at her primary school (there are10 children in her year group).

In her year? Is it a tiny village school with mixed year groups?

Ofsted ratings can be helpful, but shouldn't be used as the sole basis of which school to attend. 10 in a year group is tiny, and the other school sounds as though it's about to get a huge boost with a new headteacher and academy status. It will also give your DD more options for friendships and finding like minded peers. I would definitely look at moving.

It will be closely monitored so can only get better.

Did the children in Y6 have tutoring to get through 11 plus?

Do you know parents there?

Yes, I wouldn’t put much sway on the 11+ thing. They could have been in a Saturday tutoring school from Y3 for all you know. My own daughter has just passed- she had no tutoring at all but she was constantly studying for it at home with me for 3 months prior. Her school is great but if I’d have sent her in with just the learned knowledge from school then she would not have passed.

I know a few parents at the school, from what I can tell the children have a good standard of education. I've had a chat with the school and know there is a place for dd, I've had a good look at the website too.

From the website these are the things that I really like:

• new school has a greater focus on pastoral care, mental health and they have a forest school for the children
• larger class size (yes my dd was in a class of 10!!!)
• more diverse RE curriculum which involves learning about other faiths. My dd's current school only teachers the CofE faith.

10 children is a dream come true for a teacher. I paid an absolute fortune for my son to have this at private school.
But, just move her, you clearly want to.
However do remember that what you read on the school website and what happens in school are two different things!
The RE syllabus for a county is agreed by all of the faiths so I do not believe that your child’s current school only covers Christianity. They might have only covered that so far but they have to cover the agreed syllabus .

It depends what the problems she is having are. If it's bullying and it isn't going to be resolved I would move her. If its more your problem than hers I would leave her.

It's a real culture shock moving primary schools even of the new school is around the corner from the old. It can be very difficult. This is from first hand experience of me doing it (yes I am 40 and still vividly remember) and one of my own doing it with similar results.

My DD went to a school in “special measures (East of England)”. They poured lots of money in, and the school did get a better rating a few years later. DD did OK, I always think she could have done better. We are fairly remote though, so travel was a problem.

Ofsted is just one factor. Locally to us a primary school which everyone was really annoying and desperate about has plummeted from Outstanding to Inadequate - because outstandings are left to their own devices and it wasn’t inspected for FOURTEEN YEARS.
Our school’s last inspection was Inadequate but the next year it turned into an academy, all new staff, it’s really an amazing school with the best facilities out of all the local schools and the most outdoor space so has done really well through covid. Luckily for us people are still snobby about it so it’s not oversubscribed.

A lot of work will have gone in since that Inadequate rating and the school has had a change of management by converting to an academy. I'm guessing it is part of a Multi Academy Trust? If it is look at the track record of the Trust and the schools in it. You need to decide based on feedback from parents at the potential school and your own judgement. The Ofsted rating is ancient history, things tend to change very rapidly after an Inadequate rating.

p.s. An academy is just another school - the source of funding and management change, but academically they don't rank any "higher" than other schools just because they are an academy. Inadequate maintained schools have to convert to an academy, they have no choice.

The thread is from October and she hasn’t posted since then so I imagine the OP isn’t still reading.

Side issue, but surely all state schools have to teach the whole range of religions as part of the RE curriculum? Doesn't sound very outstanding only to teach CoE. Also that tiny year group size is so tricky for friendships. My shy DC thrived at a bigger school with a greater mix of people to play with. Forest school sounds lovely too. If the problems she's having haven't been addressed (another non-outstanding quality), then YANBU to move her. As others have said, the ofsted rating sounds outdated and they'll not be resting on their laurels are the current school seems to be.

Oh thanks for spotting that @WorriedGiraffe. ZOMBIE THREADS are soooo annoying! Dunno how they get randomly resurrected like this.

Fucks sake @Charlotte2022 what you playing at! @MNHQ once again requesting you do something about zombie notifications!