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

[Anon998]

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.

@EssexSerpent also teachers are always leaving. My son once had 3 different teachers in one year! Can quality of education change quickly? Or would it be something that would change over time?

Take the report with a pinch of salt. Our school was downgraded just before covid, and had a follow up visit in June last year. One of the reasons it was downgraded was because the library looked tired

Private schools vary a lot. I’ve had experience of three. The first (in Cambridge) was religious and a bit cliquey but it was friendly overall and my son loved it. (We had to take him out of mainstream as ASD.)

Second private school in Yorkshire was very very small and weird. My son only lasted a term and none of the parents spoke to me! It was the most awful experience!

Third school (Cambridge) similar to the first but slightly bigger and not religious. Parents friendly and mostly not snobby. Son loved it.

Private doesn't necessarily mean it's any better than your current school. Maybe the classes sizes are smaller. But the teaching may be no better. I'd save your money and stay put. The school will do everything in its power to improve its rating.

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?

Yes, it would since that's pretty fundamental

Instead of actually being there, a lot of Ofsted's work is done on paperwork submitted by the school now, but I'd hope a "requires improvement" suggests they've actually spent some time in the place?

Anyway between this, tutors being required and staff decamping I wouldn't be paying good money for this - and that's before we get to the worry over whether the quality of the actual education's suffering because they're spending too much time on religious diktat

@Anon998

I’m just commenting on info. provided here but you have ‘off feelings’, teachers are frequently leaving and now a poor Ofsted citing quality of education. It’s not great. Ofsted are currently IN schools observing lessons so I don’t believe this is because ‘paperwork was missing’.

The quality could be improved reasonably quickly but it will depend on good school leadership - which generally will have led to this in the first place. Actions here would be things like ensuring subject expertise across the curriculum and that the curriculum is engaging and enriching ie. the right breadth for different students, includes experiential learning etc. It will also mean quality of teaching - ensuring newly qualified are adequately mentored and observed internally, progression plans for other etc.

I’d email the Chair of Governors and ask how the points addressed in the Ofsted report will be addressed as you’re highly concerned. In my area schools aren’t full and are very worried about pupils leaving (less funding). If they think there will be a mass exodus and this is a leadership issue the Governors should be all over it (although they should have been already…).

Based on my experience both as a parent and as a member of staff that would set major alarm bells ringing. That is not a happy school.

I could of written it’s so similar to this but we’re year 3, the school is about to fail an oftsted (gone massively downhill all staff leaving just had a ‘concerning’ mini ofsted that the head went sick for, hence the full ofsted been requested. Son also just diagnosed dyslexic (school said didn’t think was but after homeschooling and a tutor during lockdown we did and had him tested.
4 month ago we pulled him out and went private. Best. Thing. Ever. Honestly had no idea how (despite being happy) his confidence was low and he just wasn’t learning, he’s now a different child.
follow your gut. We’d never go back.

Thank you all for the responses

I don't believe that a rating of Requires Improvement automatically results in the necessary action being taken.

High staff turnover would make me question the quality of leadership in the school. This can't be turned round quickly.

My DCs went through underperforming schools for primary and secondary. We didn't take them out because we didn't have a choice. These were the only schools with places. We couldn't afford private for 3 DCs.

My two DDs did well but this was despite not because of their schools. DS was very badly served. His dyslexia went undiagnosed until well into secondary. But he was quiet and well behaved so got overlooked.

Having DCs in a failing school is exhausting. Everything is a battle. Nothing just happens, everything has to be chased up.

If you have a choice use it. DC only get one go at this. Waiting around for things to improve is using up precious time.

They actually told me not to bother as he won’t get in!

This is what would bother me the most. The school have no belief in your child's ability. In my experience that is really hard for your child and the teachers to turn around. I am not saying he is a child genius because he got into a private school but when teachers don't believe a child can do better it makes it hard for the child to as well.

Schools go RI for a number of reasons, not just one. Paperwork might be missing that would have provided evidence of achievement for example. But the inspection is about triangulation - what do the school say is happening? Is it? What is the evidence?
When a school goes RI you generally see a lot of support go in. The school will be expected to be turning around by the time Ofsted go back. So personally I wouldn't panic. Parents leave these schools like rats leaving a sinking ship, thus reducing funding available and making a difficult situation even worse. The school they go to could get an Ofsted visit next week...

People are talking about high staff turnover - staff turnover is a national issue in schools. It's hard to recruit really good teachers, so if someone is thinking of making a move and they know their stuff it won't be difficult for them. Teachers are also stressed and burned out and leaving the profession. So very worrying times.
I was talking to some teachers recently, they said that the effects of Covid are being seen in more children who have extremely challenging behaviour that is hard to manage in a mainstream school. But a lack of support for the school in managing this, and alternative provision spaces for them. This impacts on classes, teachers and the other children. Senior leaders are constantly taken away from their duties to help with the latest crisis. Then there is the challenge that in most cases teachers are effectively trying to teach two classes in one - the children who did the work at home during the pandemic and the children who, for whatever reason, didn't. It's not good out there. I think we will see more Good schools slipping down when Ofsted call.

I don’t pay attention to OFSTED.

The best schools I’ve worked in have been rated RI or good and the worst are Outstanding.

My own child (yr10) goes to a school that is rated as ‘good’ and has managed to keep that rating this year by the skin of their teeth.
OFSTED didn’t take into account COVID which has had a big impact on not only grades but behaviour, teacher absences, teacher/student relationships etc. None of which I think is damaging to the students in the long run but I don’t think OFSTED should have been done so soon.

Ignore the rating of the school
and focus on whether you think your child is happy or not.

A bad ofsted means there should be a focus on improving things so may not be a bad thing. Dd1 is at a requires improvement secondary and I really love it - honestly expected to try it, pull her out in Year 8 and move to independent but they’ve really impressed me. She’s now Year 10 and predicted 8s across all GCSEs. Dd2&3 are in a primary that’s supposedly “outstanding” - there’s some great teachers but as a school the leadership is lacking with the outstanding awarded under previous head 5 years ago.

Overall, go with your gut rather than ofsted. If you’re unhappy, move now rather than leaving it until dc is older.

I moved my own son in Y2 to an independent. His school got downgraded by ofsted and that triggered me, exactly like it's being a trigger for you.

I have NEVER regretted it. He stayed in private education until he went to university and it was worth every penny

This really rings true. I hadn’t thought of it but I absolutely see it now:

Then there is the challenge that in most cases teachers are effectively trying to teach two classes in one - the children who did the work at home during the pandemic and the children who, for whatever reason, didn't

My concern is how the kids who are behind can ever can catch up. Lots of kids were struggling before lockdown and not getting the help they need.

Thank you everyone, definitely a lot to consider now.

A previous poster said that a RI from Ofsted would mean that the school would vastly improve because the SLT would be trying their hardest to make improvements.
My DC's primary school got an RI but the headteacher argued against it. Several teachers left (the best ones) replaced by a series of temp teachers and still she clung on. I was tempted to take my DC's out - DH wanted them to stay and I was in a position to supplementary home ed and school could do the sport and socialising.

@fiftiesmum our experience of a failing school was similar. In DD1's GCSE year the school achieved single digit 5 GCSE rating. This for an average school.

They had messed up the English curriculum (just one example of many failings). Head was in denial initially then later damply apologetic yet somehow stayed in role. Eventually left on a sick note

The school was in and out of Special Measures like it was caught on the door handle. It haemorrhaged staff, particularly SLT. In our time in association with the school (11 years) we had more heads than years. There were extended periods with no head at all.

Once a school starts going downhill it is very difficult to stop it if the fundamental problem is poor leadership.

@fiftiesmum and @GnomeDePlume that is exactly my fears that once it goes downhill it will continue to do so.

You are in the position to make choices. Do research your options and don't be swayed by marketing.

We weren't in a position to move our DCs. They are all young adults now. They weren't scarred by their education but it could and should have been so much better.

The ofsted thing is irrelevant. It's the same schools today as it was yesterday and going forward it might even improve as a result.

However, it sounds like you already weren't happy, so you should move him if you can. IMO. Easier to don't now, socially, than later

The grade is less relevant than the wording. Quality of education effectively means three things these days:
(i) Are the schools' results in line with what might reasonably be expected from starting points?
(ii) Has the school got its act together with recent government requirements to plan a curriculum rather than leaving it to teachers to teach as they wish?
(iii) What does the quality of teaching in classrooms look like?

Three types of schools typically get RI:
(a) Schools where its really tough and despite best efforts the catchment means that they don't quite get there
(b) Schools going through a wobble ... lots of new staff in one go, maternity covers ... the smaller the school, the greater % it is if two teachers leave & the replacements need support. Sometimes a single year wobble in (i) sinks the boat, in which case don't worry too much if previous years ok.
(c) Coasting middle class schools, typically which have had good teachers and therefore leaders who have not needed to do so much, who suddenly find they have some less experienced or weaker teachers and the systems/structures aren't there for them.

(i) Really concerning if over time; (ii) is a paperwork issue if iii is ok; (iii) again, concerning if they are seeing lots of weak lessons.

(a) Happens to lots of city schools; (b) probably temporary but hits kids in particular classes quite hard; (c) Hard to move and may be stuck for a while - leadership will stay on but have to change course significantly.

In terms of private ... be very very aware of how they will help your child catch up. Some private are hothouses and really don't want to know kids who can't keep up with a very fast pace; others are lovely family places where all are valued and nurtured.

If you want to PM me with school name, I can review report/data online and tell you what I think is happening there.

That's an interesting assessment @Headteacher415 . However I think that b) having a wobble can have been going on for years if there has been a long gap between inspections.

As parents we may not initially be aware of the problems a school is having. If our children are well behaved, we (and their teachers) may not realise they are slipping between the cracks.

We don't know that our child hasn't made the progress they should have made because our sample size is so small. We assume that whatever is happening is normal because we don't know any different.

That having a wobble can follow a year group or class for years if there has been particularly weak teaching for any extended period and foundation stones haven't been laid.