To think the school knows the date of the OFSTED inspection?

[Vinvertebrate]

My DS7 has SEN (autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic, SPD and a slew of other acronyms). He has 1:1 in class. There are a few other children in his year with milder SEN or who are just a bit disruptive. He goes to a naice OFSTED outstanding C of E school.

DS and a few others have been "selected" to go on a non-educational trip that is being organised by the school for a date coming up in the next couple of weeks. Places are supposedly randomly allocated, but it seems to be all the children at the less compliant end of the scale. He's really excited but I am a bit uneasy because it's so....unusual.

OFSTED is also due. I always thought the date was not known to anyone in advance, but now I'm doubtful. AIBU to think the school has advance notice of the date and is getting the challenging kids out of the way?

No she didn’t. She said “It’s absolute madness to me that you don’t get told in England” implying she’s NOT in England but she thinks English schools should be told.

I'm not sure if she meant to type "I'm in England" or "its madness that you don't get to know earlier in England". If its the latter, then she's probably not in England

Where I work was extremely overdue. In the four years I've worked there, bar Covid, they've were on tenterhooks every Monday or Wednesday expecting the call.

In the end the school found out at about 10.30 on a Monday for Ofsted to come in the next day.
We didn't do anything differently at all, certainly no time to organise trips.

Not Tuesday?!

They don't know the date of the inspection but they will know roughly when they are due. It gets to point where it's definitely "any day now".
The trip might be because they want to prove they are doing something to help the children with SEN. It might not be directly curriculum relevant but perhaps it's designed with personal and social education in mind.
Or maybe they just want to do something nice for those kids in the run up to Christmas and give them a bit of a break from the curriculum and being in school?

I've been involved with a number of Ofsteds, only ever know the day before (talking England here)

If we get to Wednesday lunchtime then we know we don't have an inspection that week. We wish we did know

@PicaK we were under the misapprehension that inspections didn't take place on Fridays, until we got the phone call on Wednesday for a 2 day inspection. Even the inspector commented that they checked the date was correct

Yes, school got the call on a Monday at about 10.30 and Ofsted were then in next day, on the Tuesday and Wednesday.
Basically they call and then come in the next two days.

They call the day before to sort out a timetable, cover for subject leaders to be arranged, records need to be gathered in one place, surveys to staff and parents need to be sent out etc.

Yeah but they call in the morning. So by lunchtime you're safe

And if course ‘no notice’ where Ofsted just arrive and one day ungraded inspections (very small schools) and one day monitoring inspections of requires improvement schools. All of these recently have been a Friday.

What if they know someone at Ofsted? I know someone who works there who probably has access. Of course they shouldn’t be providing it to people but we know it probably happens

They absolutely don’t know. No one finds out until the week of the inspection.

@PicaK I know, but we thought we were safe by Tuesday lunchtime! It was thought that inspectors used Fridays to write up their reports.

I think the inspection process is very flawed. However I think giving 2 weeks notice isn't great either. Staff shouldn't be preparing for two weeks before inspection, the visitors should see the same school that teachers, pupils and carers see every day.
And apologies for reading 'England' when that wasn't what was typed. 😂
Of course all schools have a good idea what Ofsted will be looking at when they do come - it's all there in the inspection framework.

SIAMS (Church school inspections get a weeks notice) and there is a list of schools to be inspected in the year

I'm a teacher and have been through zillions of OFSTEDs. They ring the school by midday the day before they come-so that school can't do this sort of thing. And schools that are due an OFSTED- the visit might months after an inspection is 'due' unless a school is being monitored due to being judged inadequate or in special measures.

Can't you just see it as a positive thing they are doing? Why do you need to be so suspicious? I'd be delighted if my child got an exciting opportunity that was exclusive. It sounds like it might be free of charge too? Schools can't win! If you want to have a moan you can always send a message when the inspectors do come in.

They definitely don't know until the lunchtime before (unless it's a safeguarding visit which is unannounced in advance). Also, I have known of Ofsted inspectors to attend a school trip which was already organised on the day ot an inspection so it would not necessarily be of any benefit for removing more challenging children.