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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School downgraded by ofsted, now I don't know what to do

76 replies

Anon998 · 11/07/2022 08:38

Please give me your opinions on what you would do or any advice.

My son is in year 2 of a faith based school, we’re not overly religious to be honest and put him in there as it’s known for good behaviour and hard working kids. The kids are all so lovely and parents are lovely too. The issue is I’ve had a nagging feeling for a couple of years to take him out, I can’t explain it but it’s just been an awful feeling. I just put it down to anxiety etc. The school had a recent ofsted which downgraded it and it doesn’t look good at all. The school is now ofsted requires improvement. Lots of parents taking their kids out now.

I’m just really worried in case I’m making a mistake by taking him out. When I was having my doubts I got him to take entrance tests at the local private schools and he passed and got accepted into one. We’re planning to put him in there but I really don’t know what to do.

I know the private school will be amazing education and opportunities but say if socially I’m making a mistake and the kids and parents are not as nice and my child is not happy. I feel sad the friendships he’s made and will be leaving them now. financially we can afford it as we both are professionals working in good jobs. I just don’t know what to do.

OP posts:
Johnnysgirl · 11/07/2022 11:34

Arenanewbie · 11/07/2022 09:38

You’ve said that your son passed t entrance tests into the local private school but he’s very behind age related expectations. It’s a bit strange, surely he wouldn’t pass entrance tests into a private school if he’s so behind?

Indeed 🤔

Original poster
Anon998 · 11/07/2022 11:36

@Johnnysgirl see my previous post. Think you posted just as I was writing. Ignore the typos.

OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 11/07/2022 11:36

If you have only taught him to the test he may struggle in the private school if it is very selective, as he may be very behind some of his peers

Original poster
Anon998 · 11/07/2022 11:39

@toomuchlaundry yes I spoke to the private as I was shocked he actually got in but they re-assured me that he did amazing st the test and done of it was verbal reasoning so it showed them how he thinks. They said not to worry as they will catch him up with everything he’s missed.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 11/07/2022 11:41

If it was just the Ofsted report that is worrying you I would say forget it but if you have doubts for other reasons and a good alternative I would change schools

FourChimneys · 11/07/2022 11:47

Anecdotal but it's not necessarily a disaster. My DCs school was put in special measures. We kept them there as they were happy.

Both have first class degrees and good jobs now.

Johnnysgirl · 11/07/2022 11:53

Why did you apply to schools that you were "shocked" he was accepted into? Quite bizarre...

surreygirl1987 · 11/07/2022 12:22

People are so obsessed by Odsted results. I'm a teacher and have a doctorate in education. I just moved house mainly to get my kids into a better primary school. The schools by my old house were rated 'outstanding' but they were NOT good schools and there's no way my kids were going there. The school we've moved near is actually Requires Improvement but I really want my kids to go there and moved to that village specifically. You need to look at the whole picture, not a label. I also have the option of an excellent private at huge discount but would prefer for my kids to go to this school which is labelled RI. And I fully believe education is the most important thing I can give me children.

surreygirl1987 · 11/07/2022 12:24

Also be careful with private schools. Just because a child gets in doesn't necessarily mean he's done well in an entrance exam. I've known private schools that are struggling for numbers accept literally anyone. Not saying that's what is going on here, but you need to have your eyes open!

Hoppinggreen · 11/07/2022 12:27

Not all Private schools are selective, at my DC school the exam is to assess you. If they have a space you are in
It is worth checking though

MrsR87 · 11/07/2022 12:30

As a teacher, my only piece of advice is to
have a very good read of the Ofsted report. What are the key reasons that it has been downgraded? Is it something that’s easy to fix or is or something that is now very embedded and will take time to fix? Do the school have a plan to improve?

Also, whilst some private schools are excellent, others are simply not worth the money. We had a local one close down recently and many of the pupils ended up in our GCSE cohort. I would say currently my school is a good school (Ofsted agree) with average to good results. However, the ability of all the pupils that ended up with us from the private school were below our own pupils! A quick chat to them, and I was shocked with the dates resources (both academic and technical) that they were being taught with! To be fair, even in the ten or so years leading up to this school closing, we had parents pull them to come to us!

Johnnysgirl · 11/07/2022 12:38

he did amazing st the test and done of it was verbal reasoning so it showed them how he thinks
Did it really?

Deliaskis · 11/07/2022 12:41

I would only take the Ofsted report in context with other information. DD's school has recently gone into special measures but they've all just flown through Y6 SATs with record high results, so what I feel is that each of these things only tell you a small part of the overall picture. They are now getting a ton of expertise and resource thrown at them to improve in the key areas of concern, so if DD was staying, I'd give it another year at this point. If you have other concerns, that is more relevant really, than Ofsted alone. I would also scrutinise the report carefully to see what is really being said and if that is something you are worried about. There are some expectations from Ofsted that are downright odd. One of the comments in our report criticised the school for not teaching children about drugs and specifically 'county lines'. The lack of education in this area is not something I am overly concerned about in 4-11 year olds!

Deliaskis · 11/07/2022 12:43

E.g. also in DD's school's Ofsted, there were 'serious concerns' about safeguarding, which would make every parent withdrawing their kids, but when you read it, it was the drop off and pick up procedure that had been put in place for COVID, that involved crossing the car park. It was fixed the day the inspectors mentioned it. There were two or three similar things that were literally instantly remedied.

Anyway, as per my post above....it's one part of the picture but by no means the whole thing.

artisanbread · 11/07/2022 12:45

Being graded requires improvement is not a problem if you feel your DC is happy there and doing well. If that's not how you feel,as with schools of any rating, you try working with the school and if things don't improve you then look at moving them.

Shrekroll · 11/07/2022 12:52

Arenanewbie · 11/07/2022 09:38

You’ve said that your son passed t entrance tests into the local private school but he’s very behind age related expectations. It’s a bit strange, surely he wouldn’t pass entrance tests into a private school if he’s so behind?

Private school places are in freefall at the moment, probably why

EssexSerpent · 11/07/2022 12:54

I’m not a teacher but am a school governor at a primary and recently went through an Ofsted. We got a presentation at the end and for only 2 days observation it was very accurate. Not everything they said (good and bad) got into the published report.

The school maintained a ‘good’ rating despite way below national average attainment. This is generally due to the cohort of pupils with complex backgrounds, but also areas of teaching that need to improve. Ofsted look at curriculum offer, safeguarding etc. and lots of other things not just outcomes.

As others have said the school will now be in greater focus but as to whether I’d keep a child there depends why it’s in ‘needs improvement’.

What was mentioned in the report more specifically then we can give more help?

Silverfinch · 11/07/2022 13:06

DD is finishing yr6 at a state primary, which is rated good but tbh hasn't blown me away.
As you would expect there is a real range of abilities and the ones who achieve greater depth do so because they're bright, I don't think it's much to do with the school. Similarly those who are behind expectations probably would be anywhere.

If he's settled and has friends I would keep him where he is. The school will start to receive investment and you could spend your money on tutoring rather than private fees.

whynotwhatknot · 11/07/2022 13:13

the private school probably needs the extra money you'll bring- a friends daughters private school had to close due to not enough pupils

Hoppinggreen · 11/07/2022 13:15

Shrekroll · 11/07/2022 12:52

Private school places are in freefall at the moment, probably why

Show quote history

Not at all of them
some have waitlists

NicLondon1 · 11/07/2022 13:19

Don't overthink this - please just trust your gut.
You've had worries FOR YEARS, it's been confirmed by Ofsted, and now he's got a place in an amazing school.

I don't see the issue, I'd just do it, I'm sure he'll make new friends and you'll be so glad you did it!
(Full disclosure; my own life changed immensely when I went from state to private, mainly as the kids were less disruptive and all eager to learn. The teaching was excellent and it propelled me academically and boosted my confidence. I realise it is a tricky topic but that was my personal experience)

Summersolargirl · 11/07/2022 13:21

Just move him to the better school he’s in year two. He can make more friends.

Original poster
Anon998 · 11/07/2022 13:28

The things mentioned in the report were the “quality of education”. I need to go read through the rest and write more later. Would this concern you?

OP posts:
Original poster
Anon998 · 11/07/2022 13:29

@NicLondon1 thank you

OP posts:
EssexSerpent · 11/07/2022 13:33

Yes mentioning quality of education would concern me. That’s a key domain on which schools and HTs are evaluated.