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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be absolutely dreading tomorrow

135 replies

Oakwoodtrees · 08/05/2023 23:17

I’m the headteacher of a primary school. We have ofsted in tomorrow and Wednesday for an inspection. I know I run a good school, I know that but I am honestly dreading it. Feel like I could cry I’m so worried. My worst is fear is accidentally getting something wrong. Just trying to keep in the back of my mind that I do run a good school no matter want they say. I feel sick to my stomach with dread I really do

OP posts:
Original poster
Oakwoodtrees · 08/05/2023 23:19

No matter what they say. Apologies, it was autocorrect I promise.

OP posts:
Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 23:20

Keep doing what you do. You know your job, you trust your staff and anything Ofsted find is just tweaks that can make life better for your students, nothing more. Keep all that in mind. I hate Ofsted for what they do to good teachers, it's cruel.

Go for a quick walk/drive now if you're struggling to sleep (or stand in the garden get some air).

itsrainin · 08/05/2023 23:20

Can’t relate to your specific situation but can definitely relate to dreading going to work tomorrow. I’ve had a blissful week off and know I’ll come back to similar stress and BS

Castlerock44 · 08/05/2023 23:21

Nothing much to offer except, dont worry, what will be will be. This time tomorrow it'll all be over and no doubt everything will have been fine. Good luck.

Original poster
Oakwoodtrees · 08/05/2023 23:22

Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 08/05/2023 23:20

Keep doing what you do. You know your job, you trust your staff and anything Ofsted find is just tweaks that can make life better for your students, nothing more. Keep all that in mind. I hate Ofsted for what they do to good teachers, it's cruel.

Go for a quick walk/drive now if you're struggling to sleep (or stand in the garden get some air).

Thank you, I’ll try to think like that.

i might go for a drive as I can’t sleep and probably won’t get any sleep.

OP posts:
Littlebluebird123 · 08/05/2023 23:22

I'm sorry you feel so stressed. You just have to do your best, encourage your staff to share all the good they do. At the end of the day, it's a job. It's hard to have that mindset, but honestly, the work will still need doing after Ofsted leave whichever way it goes. There are some reasonable inspectors out there. We had them recently and they were human about it all. Hope it goes well. Please try to sleep.

Original poster
Oakwoodtrees · 08/05/2023 23:24

Littlebluebird123 · 08/05/2023 23:22

I'm sorry you feel so stressed. You just have to do your best, encourage your staff to share all the good they do. At the end of the day, it's a job. It's hard to have that mindset, but honestly, the work will still need doing after Ofsted leave whichever way it goes. There are some reasonable inspectors out there. We had them recently and they were human about it all. Hope it goes well. Please try to sleep.

Thank you, glad it went ok for you I really am

OP posts:
UWhatNow · 08/05/2023 23:24

I feel for you. It’s an enormous career touchstone and a huge risk if it goes tits up. The spotlight is on you and your name is on the report.

Unfortunately so many school leaders, including governors, fail to delegate and invest in building teams effectively so all the burden of holding it all together falls to one person. Good luck op.

ReadersD1gest · 08/05/2023 23:26

No advice, but best of luck for tomorrow, op 🍀

TheChosenTwo · 08/05/2023 23:26

Shit timing with SATS too 😱 I wouldn’t have thought they’d bother, every single member of our school staff was totally tied in to that.
Focus on all the positives and I guess be up front about areas for development (I don’t know if you’re supposed to be or if you’re marked down for daring to acknowledge that not everything is perfect).
And when it’s all over sigh a big sigh of relief and show gratitude to your staff also for making it through. Best of luck for the next couple of days 💐

Original poster
Oakwoodtrees · 08/05/2023 23:29

TheChosenTwo · 08/05/2023 23:26

Shit timing with SATS too 😱 I wouldn’t have thought they’d bother, every single member of our school staff was totally tied in to that.
Focus on all the positives and I guess be up front about areas for development (I don’t know if you’re supposed to be or if you’re marked down for daring to acknowledge that not everything is perfect).
And when it’s all over sigh a big sigh of relief and show gratitude to your staff also for making it through. Best of luck for the next couple of days 💐

I know, the fact it clashes with SATS is another worry.

OP posts:
Sherrystrull · 08/05/2023 23:29

Best of luck!

Have confidence in yourself and your staff. Take a breath before answering a question and that's all you can do.

KnittingOnEmpty · 08/05/2023 23:29

You do run a good school. You do an incredible job. You are a committed, conscientious and caring professional with the best interests of the children in your care at heart. I'm sure you wouldn't be on here so tense about it if you weren't.

Motheranddaughtertotwo · 08/05/2023 23:32

I don’t have any advice but just wanted to wish you good luck. I hope they are kind to you (and they soon disappear off the earth).

JamSandle · 08/05/2023 23:33

You can do it!!!!!

Belle89 · 08/05/2023 23:36

My sons school has recently been graded as needing improvement from previously being 'good'. I think those at the school, in the local community, can appreciate all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. Although academically there is improvement to be made following changes to curriculum delivery methods, the school and staff have many other strong elements and fantastic patrol care. As a parent I felt sympathy for the schools staff.
I'm sure your school community will be behind you regardless, it seems a dated system where a label created in a 2 day snap shot seems to suffice and remain over a much longer period. I personally take the ratings as a pinch of salt and work off feedback from those with children attending, visit and make my own judgements too.
Please don't be too hard on yourself, as someone already mentions. SATS week should be the main focus.

RubyJack · 08/05/2023 23:37

Which country are you in?We don't normally have advance notice in England.Usually a phone call the day before .
I believe Wales has more notice.
Good luck,let them know hie amazing your school is :)

Original poster
Oakwoodtrees · 08/05/2023 23:37

If it makes a difference we are an LA school not an academy.

OP posts:
RubyJack · 08/05/2023 23:38

RubyJack · 08/05/2023 23:37

Which country are you in?We don't normally have advance notice in England.Usually a phone call the day before .
I believe Wales has more notice.
Good luck,let them know hie amazing your school is :)

How amazing

Original poster
Oakwoodtrees · 08/05/2023 23:43

Thank you everyone. I don’t think I’ll sleep much though to be honest.

OP posts:
Softoprider · 08/05/2023 23:51

OP When my children were little I was a parent helper at their school. I would come in and listen to children read and sometimes get involved doing other classroom based things.
They had an Ofsted inspection and all of the staff were worried because you hear the stories don't you.
I was present in the classroom when the teacher I usually helped was talking to the children - doing a maths lesson. I remember it so well. This was a class of six year olds. She got their attention by using smarties out of a packet as a tool for counting.
The kids were mesmerised !
At the end of the lesson the Ofsted guy came to the teacher and told her in all his years of doing this job it was a pleasure and a privilege to see her at work. She cried. I cried. We all bloody cried :)

At the end of the day if you know you are OK then you will be. They will as well.
Good luck x

Original poster
Oakwoodtrees · 09/05/2023 00:11

Softoprider · 08/05/2023 23:51

OP When my children were little I was a parent helper at their school. I would come in and listen to children read and sometimes get involved doing other classroom based things.
They had an Ofsted inspection and all of the staff were worried because you hear the stories don't you.
I was present in the classroom when the teacher I usually helped was talking to the children - doing a maths lesson. I remember it so well. This was a class of six year olds. She got their attention by using smarties out of a packet as a tool for counting.
The kids were mesmerised !
At the end of the lesson the Ofsted guy came to the teacher and told her in all his years of doing this job it was a pleasure and a privilege to see her at work. She cried. I cried. We all bloody cried :)

At the end of the day if you know you are OK then you will be. They will as well.
Good luck x

Awww love this!! So happy to hear

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 09/05/2023 00:19

Believe in yourself and as head teacher, don’t be afraid to stand up for your team.

years ago I was in a secondary and our dept was singled out for a spot inspection as we’d got outstanding in the main inspection and they wanted to check in. Not sure why. I’d only worked there 2 months and the inspector clearly had no understanding of my role so I had to explain yet he continued asking irrelevant questions with me explaining I couldn’t answer as none of that was my remit. By the end of day 1 (2 day inspection) the head teacher called the inspector in and had a go at him for demoralising his entire business dept which has always been his most dedicated dept and the role of the inspector was not to destroy his good work. Day 2 comes and the inspector calls us all in to apologise! It was so so weird.

good luck and believe in yourself and what you do.

JudgeRudy · 09/05/2023 00:19

Oakwoodtrees · 08/05/2023 23:17

I’m the headteacher of a primary school. We have ofsted in tomorrow and Wednesday for an inspection. I know I run a good school, I know that but I am honestly dreading it. Feel like I could cry I’m so worried. My worst is fear is accidentally getting something wrong. Just trying to keep in the back of my mind that I do run a good school no matter want they say. I feel sick to my stomach with dread I really do

This makes me so sad....and angry too, that professional adults are under so much pressure. Is it no wonder teachers are leaving in droves.

WombatStewForTea · 09/05/2023 00:19

RubyJack · 08/05/2023 23:37

Which country are you in?We don't normally have advance notice in England.Usually a phone call the day before .
I believe Wales has more notice.
Good luck,let them know hie amazing your school is :)

Yeah this. You won't have got a call on a bank holiday Monday for inspection the following day 🤔