Ofsted Inadequate Serious Weaknesses

[PrimaryConcern]

School was found Inadequate Serious Weaknesses in October 2016. It's had two monitoring inspections, one in July 2017 and one in March of this year. Both monitoring inspections were fairly positive, though since the last one there's been a second wave of staff changes and it will start the new academic year with 4/7 new class teachers and the Head who was brought in after the Ofsted will also have left (and been replaced by internal promotion).

I'm trying to work out when it will have the full inspection. What I've read online said within 18 months of the inadequate but that's passed.

Any idea, or is it just a bit of a "how long is a piece of string?" question.

The school will have monitoring inspections about every 6 months. It is quite common for this monitoring visit to turn into a full section 5 inspection if the monitoring inspector feels enough progress has been made to take it out of serious weakness.
Having said that 4 out of 7 new teachers and a new head is not ideal preparation for an inspection, so I would suspect that you probably looking at a minimum of 12 months before this might happen.

Thanks. There's only been 2 monitoring visit reports since Oct 2016, would there be visits that they don't report on?

Having looked at the school's Ofsted report page, it says Inadequate schools are normally inspected and monitored within 30 months of the latest inspection report. Which means it could be up until February 2019. This year's Yr 6 SATs are likely to be the best the school has had for a while, but I suspect the results will drop quite a bit next year. I know SATs are only a small part, but in a way being inspected later may give a more accurate picture. Years 4,5 &6 will be 3 of the 4 classes getting new teachers as there's been real problems with retaining staff since the inspection in October 2016.

I shall just have to wait and see what happens.

It will not be all about results. The inspectors want to look at progress. Children who don’t have great Sats results might have made fantastic progress to get to 99. Ofsted look at the quality of teaching over time, not just a quick sit at the back of a classroom. Observation of teaching is to back up evidence.

A Head from inside the school knows the school. Your staff turnover is high but as long as permanent staff are secured for September, I wouldn’t worry too much. They need to keep the good Work going and the Head needs to keep driving the improvements.

In some ways, when Ofsted come doesn’t matter as long as the school is maintaining the improvement and that all the measures they have put in are working. Evidence they are working will be sought. The Head will need the evidence but if they have worked with the interim head, they should be on top of this.

So if you are certain children are making progress and being well taught, then hopefully Ofsted will see a good school.

Thanks for your reply.

I've no idea of the likely progress of the children asides from Yr6.

There's been huge issues with staff retention - the longest serving teacher will still be under 2 years service there - particularly with Yrs 4,5&6 who will have all new teachers come September. Years 4 &5 also had the worst of the KS1 teaching, and there are a lot of issues with class behaviour in a couple of the classes. Year 5 have had a huge amount of teachers in the last year, after the new teacher left they had trouble retaining supply teachers and juggled other teachers around to cover. Even that didn't work and the deputy head is now teaching them until the end of term.
I'd say reception & KS1 is fairly stable, though Yr1 is currently taught by a HLTA.

The Head of School was really great but she's leaving. The Executive Head is not really engaged with the school tbh and seems to prioritise her other school that she had formally been head of. I'm not even sure how it's come about, but one of the teachers leaving our school has transferred to that school. It's possible the teacher wanted to leave and they offered the other school, I suppose.

This sounds a bit of a mess to be honest. I guess the other school had a vacancy but I think it sucks a bit for a teacher to transfer to the executive Heads school. If the teacher was good, performance pay could have kept them in your school, or at least an effort made.

In a school the size of yours (1 class per year) a Deputy Head would be expected to teach. They are an experienced teacher, so they do need to bring that expertise to the Classroom. I would not accept a non qualified teacher having a class. Is he/she training to be a teacher?

From the staffing problems you describe, I would doubt that they are getting good progress out of the children. Turmoil with teachers/supply teachers is never good news. In fact constant use of supply teachers is always a red flag . What years are your children in? Are they heading for a settled class or not? It does seem teachers don’t want to work at this school. I wonder if they needed a new broom for the new Head to get new impetus into the school? I realise this is different to my original thoughts, but that was before the constant staffing issues you have now raised. I think you are right to be concerned.

A mess sums it up. They have improved some things - staff are now DBS checked(!) and we were getting half-termly academic reports so the children's progress is tracked, though I think that may have trailed off a bit.

Sorry ,the teacher is an Assistant Head rather than deputy, is the also the SENCo for the two schools and was mostly based at the other school before taking over the Yr5 class.

The Yr5 class has a reputation for being difficult to manage - I don't think the constant changes have helped - but it is rumoured that the behaviour has been why so many teachers have come and gone. With the unstable staffing, I am really curious how the Exec Head would "let" a good teacher of our school with so many problems, go to the other Ofsted Good and generally stable school. They've appointed a very strict teacher (she came in and taught of my DC's classes for a day) so it would seem they have made it clear what to expect.

My Yr6 is leaving this year but I do have a child in reception who'll be going in to the class currently without a teacher. The last update we had were they were still recruiting for the post (the previous teacher left at Easter). I don't think that the HLTA is training to be a teacher though can't know for sure. His reception teacher is excellent and Yr2 & Yr3 are also supposed to be good.

The general morale is so low tbh. Communication is pretty dire. The sports day is next week but we've not actually been informed as they've been trying to decide what format it takes this year. Nothing on the school calendar, no message or note home.

It was noticeable at the summer fete (organised by the PTA) that there was 1 teacher who was helping out (who is leaving) and a former teacher came along. None of the SLT popped in. I know their time is there own, but the same happened at Sports Day last year. One was ill, which can't be helped, but the Exec Head was on site with members of the Academy trust for a meeting but none come out even for a couple of minutes.

It also looks like they are set to sell off some of the site. With a falling roll I suppose it's inevitable, but it will be a shame to lose one of the few positives they have with the current space.

If I could, I would move my younger DC but it's not possible for complicated logistical reasons. Which is why I really want the school to improve but ultimately I may need to Home Ed if things continue they way they are. I'd just hoped that the Inadequate would mean a higher degree of monitoring than seems to have been the case so far.

Sorry about the streams of consciousness and well done if you've made it to the end!

Ofsted are coming in tomorrow! I assume this means we won't get the report until September

blimey that is a mess.

I am surprised too, as an executive head across two school, I woudl expect them to throw everything they have at trying to pull this school up.
I bet that experienced teacher threatened to leave and they offered something at the other school to get them to stay.

With such poor leadership etc, you won't improve behaviour or standards.
When we had one class with dreadful behaviour who had had a string of supply teachers, the school was really pro-active and in Sept they mixed them with the year below, created 2 new classes and put 2 strong experienced teachers in. Total change.

just read that back - I am NOT an executive head

I would have expected the executive head to do....

There is a rumour that a group of parents were responsible for ousting the YR5 teacher as a joint complaint for how he was "picking on the children". But this sounds rather fanciful to me! I think this class has gone through around 10 teachers with the new teacher at the start of the academic year lasting 3 weeks. Unfortunately the Yr4 class also has some ahem behaviour issues, so I'm not sure a split would work.

Ofsted gave the Executive Head a glowing report on the Inadequate inspection which is how they ended up with a Serious Weaknesses rather than Special Measures judgement. Management got 3 but every other category was a 4. We'll see how this one goes. Surely they can't ignore the chaos...

well, it may have some foundation in fact. I have seen groups of parents behave abominably towards teachers, and it is like some weird crowd mentality, that once they have decided a particular teacher is no good then that poor teacher is picked on for every tiny thing. Homework sent out on Tuesday instead of Monday? COMPLAIN to the head LOUDLY and so on.

The easiest thing may have been to move them. For teacher's sanity as much as anything. It takes a certain sort of head who can not only stand up to the parents in that situation, but actually turn it round and get them onside

I suppose with a falling roll in an already very under-subscribed school a threat of mass departure wouldn't be a good look. TBH the teacher does have a bit of a unnecessary cutting edge (One of mine was taught by this teacher in a previous year) but is overall a good teacher.

The Yr4 class has had some similar behaviour issues though not quite to the extreme of Yr5, but I'm not sure a split would work. I do know the incoming Yr6 teacher is very, very strict and hopefully the SLT have been honest about the likely challenges ahead.

And it's SATs results day tomorrow. I reckon the current Yr6's will have had the best the results the school has ever had for KS2. Just hope it doesn't wow Ofsted too much(!)

Well if Ofsted are coming in they will see the staffing turmoil and the Sats results. They will be looking at progress. I think you may have to wait until September for results of the inspection. I think comments on Early Years will be interesting! If YR is ok, I would send my child and see what happens in Y1. I couldn’t ever have home ed. My DCs would have been distraught but you can do a lot of work at home to make up for shortcomings.

Parents do not get rid of teachers. Teachers can decide to resign, transfer to another school within the MAT, get a job in another school or be removed on capability grounds. The quickest capability can be done is around a term. More likely a lot longer. He probably wasn’t up for staying in the school.

If numbers are falling, they need to rejig teachers and classes to save money and pay for Exec Heads inflated salary! A weak SLT often drives teachers away and it will be interesting what Ofsted have to say about securing settled teaching!

Ofsted Parent view is not looking to favourable atm! Though I have no idea how much attention Ofsted give it.

My child is already in reception though I do have a younger child, they won't be starting for a couple of years. They have appointed a Yr1 teacher now so I'll see how that goes. The Yr2 & Yr3 teachers are well regarded so if they stay in post(!), I've got a couple of years before resorting to drastic measures. (Unless things go very wrong for my DC).

The school can technically take just over 300. It's had under 200 for at least 6 years, possibly much longer. It drops a little each year, and the incoming reception class is said to be the smallest they've had for a while. But locally a lot of schools are at capacity and DC school is ear-marked to take the excess as there is a lot of new housing going up. It appears the Academy is looking to sell some of the site (it was a separate infants and juniors years ago and thus it spacious and you could slice a fair wack off easily) but I don't know how that will jive with the LA.

Ofsted have offered to meet with parents tomorrow. Is this standard procedure?

ofsted do take parent view seriously.
They want parent opinions and will meet parents.
Not sure how much weight it carries.

It will be very interesting to see the Ofsted view on Management as was so very favourable last time. The parent view for "This School is well led and managed" statement is 10% in the strongly agree/agree and 90% in the disagree/strongly disagree. 27% would recommend the school.

It's going to be a long old wait for the inspection report!

Parent views are not exactly seen as being weighted against other aspects of the Inspection. It is evidence gathering which will be considered by the Inspectors as they go through the inspection process. It forms part of their judgement and they certainly consider if parent views are justified, or not, by looking at all the evidence provided by the school and with their own eyes, eg looking at work books, classroom observation, progress data, vacancies, etc. They frequently comment on aspects raised by parents in Reports.

Inspectors should see parents but usually this is informal at the start of the day or at collection time. If they have called a meeting, in my view, this is because Parent View is negative. Therefore they have taken account of Parent View. Do go to the meeting!

If you want to know more about Ofsted Inspections, you can download the whole Ofsted Inspection Handbook which was updated in April I think. (links are not my strong point but Google it) Every single aspect of what inspectors do regarding an inspection is in there! It makes great bedtime reading! Seriously though, it takes you through every aspect of what they are looking at and how they gather information and evidence - from looking at the school's judgement of itself, evidence from stakeholders, to meetings with SLT and Governors.

I would be surprised if SLT now look great. I hope the new teacher is good. If they are joining a decent KS1 team, then there is every chance they will be OK. Ofsted will pick up on any KS1 issues so you will know what the school should be addressing in the near future.

The Inspectors were around after school today too.Tomorrow they are not only offering a meeting but also to ring parents who can't make it.This can't be that usual? I will be going along and I'll have a good read up on the Handbook tonight. I don't think the school has ever had a "good" ofsted. It's best was RI in 2015, which was the first inspection as an academy converter following Special Measures in 2013. Then 2016 was the Inadequate. I have a feeling it will get RI as they are now on top of DBS checks, tracking pupil premiums and pupil progress. I hope so anyway!

I hope KS1 stays stable but I really couldn't blame teachers for running away from the school.The atmosphere is horrible!

My phone hasn't stopped pinging with alerts from the school messaging system today with helpful reminders.It's a bit late to try and prove the communication to parents is o.k.

hmm, that sounds to me as if they want to do something drastic and need parents to hear it.

Do keep us informed!

I was interviewed as a parent recently as part of an Ofsted inspection. It was very interesting and they certainly asked thoughtful questions!!

Back from the meeting. No big reveal I'm afraid, Ofsted were very much listening and being general and vague in answering questions. There were a couple of moments when the inspector couldn't retain the neutral poker face though. There was also an inspector taking notes throughout. It is a 2 day inspection so it seems they are being very thorough.

I did find out one of the teachers due to start in September has decided not to and that's for one of the unstable classes that's had over 7 teachers this past academic year. It was also interesting to hear what's going on in other classes, though it wasn't good news.

The inspectors were left in no doubt of how the parents feel about the management of the school, just have to see in September what the Ofsted judgement is.

There is no way that Ofsted will comment or reveal anything at a parents meeting. There is always 2, one asking the questions and one busy scribbling down what is said.They will be after asking the questions they want to and seeing what responses they get. They will be hoping that your answers triangulate with the other information and thoughts about the school they have. They will also see if parents raise any other concerns that they have not currently seen in the school.

Ofsted didn't ask any questions, though parents had a lot to say so it wasn't like there were any pauses. I'm kicking myself for not asking some questions about the Academy Trust and Ofsted's scope of how they conduct themselves.

They're busily taking on more schools (Our school was the first school they took on) and the Executive Head is now EH of 3 schools. It seems absurd to me for the EH to be taking on more responsibility elsewhere whilst our school is circling the drain.

It is interesting that they are ringing parents who could not make the meeting. Not sure I have heard that before.

Ofsted will not dicuss the school with parents, in terms of putting their views forward, but I assume the meeting was structured in terms of how the conversation developed. So was it along the lines of Parent View? It must have been organised to elicit the information they wanted to allow them to form their views and triangulate with evidence they are gathering. Was it chaired by the Lead Inspector? That's the normal method.

It seems they are taking parental concerns very seriously and years ago when I attended such a meeting, I was delighted to find highly qualified educationalist parents at the shool all agreed with my negative thoughts. The Inspectors did too. They have the benefit of forensic evidence gathering which parents do not have, but often parental perceptions are correct where a school is failing. Often parents do not recognise a coasting school, but usually they recognise serious faults.

I think the EX Head has taken their foot off the pedal and is spreading themselves too thinly with an SLT that is not good enough to drive through the changes that are needed. I would love to know if that's what Ofsted think! As it is already part of a MAT, I wonder what effort the MAT will put in now? It all seems poorly run and unacceptable to me.