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new academic year with 4/7 new class teachers and the Head who was brought in after the Ofsted will also have left (and been replaced by internal promotion).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.

Sure sounds like the exec Head does not have the strength of other senior leadership team members to make the schools works well and that Ofsted have recognised this. But everybody will have to wait for the official report to come out to see just how much of a problem the school is in.

I'm going to ask one of the parents who got a call to see if they will share if they were asked specific questions or not. There really wasn't a format to the meeting. The inspector referred to the other inspector as being there to shadow her. He noted things down on a laptop.

The Inspector just really said it was a general meeting to explain what they were there to do and they couldn't get involved in any specific complaints. Parents were itching to speak up and it was just a live version of Parent View "space for your own comments" without a character limitation. (We'd all struggled with that online!)

Everything Ofsted has reported about the Executive Head, Leadership and MAT has been very, very positive. The only slight negative I can see Ofsted have said is a communication gap between teachers and leaders which was noted on the first monitoring inspection, and observed to still be present on the second. It's rumoured that the Head of School decided to leave because the Executive Head blocked everything she tried to do to improve things. The HoS was brilliant and it's such a shame.

I'll update in September!

So I’m not quite sure why they would ring parents who were not there. They could just send out a handout if they just explained what they were doing! They don’t normally offer opinions on the views expressed but they must have noted them or the laptop
Would be redundant. We all await September.

@BubblesBuddy @steppemum
Well the report is now out. Requires Improvement. I was expecting that as the overall judgement but the 2 areas they got Good rather than RI were pupil development/behaviour and Effectiveness of Leadership and Management!!

The report pretty much ignores the Parent View stuff, the only direct quote they have used from a parent is a positive one from a parent of a reception child. They refer to the parents views as being mixed, and often more negative but basically write it off as unhappy with communication and that we are happy how they have improved behaviour across the school. This is not representative of the meeting I attended, nor the general playground stuff, but I suppose it must be the silent majority who feel differently.

The school has capacity to take 315, currently has just over 150. It's always struggled but this is an all time low, bearing in mind new housing has gone up in recent years. There are parents I know on waiting lists for surrounding schools which are all pretty much at capacity. But hey, Ofsted love the management and that's that.

The school have sent out a new home/school agreement and I'm going to be crossing out a few lines of my one.

I know it won't get me anywhere, but I think I'm going to email Ofsted about how disappointing it is they have overlooked the parent view and what is noticeably happening with the school (falling roll, can't retain teachers) and that only using the parents view that suits (do you think your children are safe) and none of the other stuff is using that data for their own bias.

not being funny, but why are you still sending your younger dc there?

I would have pulled out 1-2 years ago!

Because my eldest has an LA taxi to a specialist provision 20 miles away. The conditions are the taxi has to be met at home by a parent and the timings mean my primary age DC go to this school or home ed.

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".

most likely he just didn't see any reason why he should stay and put up with being treated like that, when he could no doubt leave and walk into a better job where he was more appreciated, the same day.

I don't think there is likely to be much wrong with the school, it sounds more like a hatchet job done by ofsted.

can't retain teachers

you can't really hold this against the school! There aren't enough teachers in the country, no schools are fully staffed, and staff are walking out as and when they reach their limits, in the middle of the school day, quite frequently!

this is likely to be because of the extra aggro caused by ofsted, rather than anything else - no one has to put up with that, these days, there are so many vacancies for teachers

My DC are at the school and it has huge problems.
I'm not sure why you think Ofsted have done a hatchet job when the report is favourable to them?

It got inadequate 2 years ago because they weren't doing DBS or pre-employment checks, didn't know where the files on vulnerable children were, teachers didn't know phonics and the Yr 1 class had only 20% passing the phonics checks. Pupil progress wasn't monitored or tracked assessments were based on gut-feeling.SEN and PP funding wasn't tracked and the sports premium was unused.

Do you think that's ok?

Do I think its ok? its impossible for me to say, but nothing you have put here indicates any issues at all, other than failing to jump through ofsted hoops, and to be honest ofsted hoops are best ignored, ofsted is no judge of anything, ofsted outcomes have been shown to be no better than random, and ofsted appears to have caused the staffing issues at this school

It got inadequate 2 years ago because they weren't doing DBS or pre-employment checks did they use agency staff? did they do list 99 checks? its not unusual, the system is far too slow to keep up with staffing changes in schools. I know of a London borough that started doing criminal background checks on school staff, and gave up and declared an amnesty when they realised how many staff they were going to have to sack.

I have seen a head literally dance around the office in celebration when a teacher was convicted of a crime because it meant they couldn't resign! in case they didn't get another job, and was one of the only staff he was then sure of retaining ( and he was a good teacher!)

Thats not to say list 99 checks shouldn't be done, no staff should be employed who are a a danger to children, that goes without saying, but having/not having DBS checks doesn't actually prove much either way, anyway

didn't know where the files on vulnerable children were, well, again, who should? I certainly don't have access to files on vulnerable children, or know where they are, I can't because of confidentiality. It depends who ofsted asked, and what the school policy is.

teachers didn't know phonics and the Yr 1 class had only 20% passing the phonics checks

and a lot of schools wash their hands of phonics altogether - its one of those things, some people swear by it, some hate it, personally I don't have strong feelings either way, although I don't use it myself.

Pupil progress wasn't monitored or tracked assessments were based on gut-feeling

well, I think a lot of parents set far too much store by this, do you really appreciate how much of this sort of stuff is cooked? It has to be, I've turned my register upside down before to get a fit to a column of "assessed levels" that I prefer.

It takes up a huge amount of teacher time too. and it is so meaningless. My school has stacks and stacks of tracking and data, every single number carefully considered to be an unnoteworthy compromise between what it it is supposed to be, and what it is in reality. I wouldn't bet a single penny on any one figure. It sounds to me that your school is just a lot more honest.

SEN and PP funding wasn't tracked and the sports premium was unused - can't comment, as I have no idea if SEN funding is normally tracked, although I expect that the right document would be waved in front of Ofsted if asked for.

as for the sports money, isn't that up to parents to have an input?.

Do you think that's ok?

I think the difference between this school and many others is that they didn't bother to put on a performance and pretence for ofsted. i can't begin to describe my contempt for the ofsted inspectors that went into an anarchic local school last term and were so fooled by their immaculate, faked paperwork they gave it good. utter bollocks.

What is it about the school that you feel was short changing your child?

and don't say staffing, because a) that is universal, and b) that has obviously been worsened by ofsted.

did they use agency staff? did they do list 99 checks?
At the point of inspection, they rarely used agency staff. Ofsted didn't mention list 99 checks, just that there were no pre-employment checks done at all, including no DBS

well, again, who should?
None of the staff, including those from the Academy trust could find them. You don't think anyone should know where they are?

and a lot of schools wash their hands of phonics altogether - its one of those things, some people swear by it, some hate it, personally I don't have strong feelings either way, although I don't use it myself.

If they wash their hands of phonics, I assume they aren't teaching it. This had teachers who didn't know phonics teaching it incorrectly, so the children failed their screen check.

well, I think a lot of parents set far too much store by this, do you really appreciate how much of this sort of stuff is cooked?

I don't think being given accurate information on your child's actual progress is a lot to ask. The SATs results at the time of the inspection were awful. Now, I'm no fan of SATs for a lot of reasons, but not a single KS1 child got expected level for writing. 0. and the KS1 and KS2 SATs were far, far below national average. And parents had been told their child was doing well.

can't comment, as I have no idea if SEN funding is normally tracked, although I expect that the right document would be waved in front of Ofsted if asked for.

as for the sports money, isn't that up to parents to have an input?.

All the above funding comes from the LA. It is a requirement for them to monitor it properly, it's not an option. The Sports money is again funding from the LA and again it has to be spent on the pupils and documented how. It is not for sitting unused in a bank account.

What is it about the school that you feel was short changing your child?
My 2 older children have since left. My eldest has SN and they were appalling to the point my DC started self-harming. The secondary school spent a year unpicking the problems caused by primary. My next oldest was a very good and able child but he spent the last year having to put up with an erratic teacher who scream his head off, storm out and a variety of other things along those lines.

My child currently at the school has SN. They haven't put in place things that should have been done in reception, they deny things have happened despite witnesses and they are over-stating abilities which will make getting an EHCP virtually impossible. It's quite obvious my DC really can't read or write to the level they report, but I can't make them be truthful, can I?

I don't think being given accurate information on your child's actual progress is a lot to ask.

I do think that a lot of parents expectations with regard to this are totally unrealistic.

you can never get more than a rough idea, these things are not precise, or linear. However when the data expected is over-precise, and refined to an unrealistic resolution, the numbers you get given back are meaningless.

some schools are poor environments. surprisingly few. Maybe this one is, or maybe it isn't, impossible to say from your very generalised comments. the best teachers I have ever known have worked in bad schools though. it is often not black and white

I cannot believe most of your post coldrain. It shows you are poorly informed. I can also assure you that schools with good leadership do have a full staffing complement. I agree that staff do go from poor schools but they tend to appreciate working for good ones.

I think Ofsted might not have received enough detailed information from enough parents about the shortcomings. If the leadership is judged as Good, that usually means there is confidence in the Head and Governors to improve the school. Without seeing the report, it’s difficult to know. What Ofsted like to see is a school which knows where it needs to improve, has a workable plan to improve and addrsss the issues and has clear and well articulated objectives and strategy for school improvement.

They may believe the staffing turbulence is behind the school. Staff turnover, if it stabilises, will indicate that the leadership has improved. Sometimes staff leave because it will be easier to teach elsewhere. Less scrutiny, less work and fewer problems!

I really can see your problems and concerns about the school and clearly one major issue for leadership to address will be quality of teaching. It isn’t very heartening to see that after Inadequate they are still no better than RI.

Schools do not perform for Ofsted, coldrain. You get next to no notice. What Ofsted see is published progress data (what “show” can this possibly be?) and every other bit of data held by the govt. Essentially they have a picture of the school before they get anywhere near it. They have the last inspection and monitoring info. They will be looking for improvement. If it isn’t good yet, is it on the way? There really is no performance for Ofsted on the day. They are looking for evidence of progress through excellent teaching. Most parents want that too. That isn’t unreasonable and every decent teacher manages to assess progress and use the info to plan lessons. Either the school is getting is right or it isn’t. You cannot pull the wool over anyone’s eyes these days!

I would sit back for a term op. See if communication improves about what the school are doing to improve. It would be good if they had a parents forum for example. Regular newsletters with useful info always helps. I do hope it goes well.

There really is no performance for Ofsted on the day

no, there is performance for ofsted all day every day to the extent that it totally dominates school life, much to the detriment of children, education and learning.

almost everything I do as a teacher is for the benefit of ofsted, and gets thrown away when ofsted don't turn up.

I have been in appalling schools graded "outstanding" and in amazing schools graded as failing.

The ofsted judgements have no meaning what so ever, and have been shown to be no better than random

The dominance that ofsted and its whims have over the English education system is at the heart of most of its problems

some schools are poor environments. surprisingly few. Maybe this one is, or maybe it isn't, impossible to say from your very generalised comments.
What comments are generalised? I thought I'd been quite specific?

Thanks BubblesBuddy.
I don't think the parents that felt strongly could do anymore than we did. The Parent view data is very clear - Only 10% said the school was well led, and only 23% would recommend the school to others. Ofsted just love the management, they were imo, way to generous with them on the Inadequate inspection. Given everything else got inadequate, but they gave the management RI to me made it a total nonsense. I feel that Ofsted just don't want to take the drastic action that is needed and instead are happy for this school to fade away.

The Executive Head knows how to talk to the talk, and is very convincing. I had a meeting with her at the end of term and the one thing that was promised never materialised.
My DC there is having an awful time. I have already had a bit of a to-do with the SENCo who is also the Head of School. Got a meeting next week but I'm not sure I will manage a term with the way things are.

Coldrain, I am so glad that you are not a teacher in schools I am a governor at. Your attitude is all wrong and gives the wrong message to parents who only want the best for their child from their school teacher.

Coldrain, I am so glad that you are not a teacher in schools I am a governor at

how do you know I'm not?

Your attitude is all wrong

no, my attitude is realistic and pragmatic, and is what has kept me going more than three decades in a career where few people last more than 5 years

parents who only want the best for their child from their school teacher.

and I give children the best

well, while ofsted do require a stack of ridiculous paperwork, that really isn't the issue here!

My kids school has a full complement of teachers. Why? well, head is good and staff morale is high. It is a good place to work.

OPs school only has 4/7 class teachers and massively high staff turnover.

Even if the 4 remaining teachers are gems, that means almost half the school have no teacher.
With the best will in the world coldrain, I hardly think those kids are getting a good education, with no teacher. And the 4 remaining are in an environment of low morale, poor parent relationships and poor /changing leadership, hardly a situation where they are going to be doing their best work.

Good school do have teachers, they are places teachers want to work in

Actually when Ofsted visited our school, we didn’t think the paperwork was particularly onerous. The Head is meticulous about evidence of what we do and it isn’t produced for Ofsted. Lots is produced for us, as governors. It is important for us to know what is going on. Some governors don’t get reliable information or much information at all. Good heads do provide reliable info so decisions are based on accurate data. That’s the hallmark of a good school.

The children have a great education. The curriculum can be imaginative and we expect high standards from teachers. We certainly can account for our sport money and our pp money and the progress that is achieved by spending it wisely.

I think it’s sad when teachers are unable to embrace Ofsted. I cannot see much difference beteeen the education my DDs received many years ago and what the children receive in the school where I am a governor. Great teachers shine in any era.

Actually when Ofsted visited our school, we didn’t think the paperwork was particularly onerous.
us, as governors
I think it’s sad when teachers are unable to embrace Ofsted

You are looking at the performance on put on for you on the stage.

The whole tone of your posts tell me you have never ever once ever had the teeniest tiniest little glimpse of the real l ife of the school and its staff, behind the curtain

Steppemum Sorry I think my OP was a bit confusing. There are now 7 teachers just 4 are new to the school. At the time of the OP a lot of the classes had supply teachers. There are no teachers that have been there for 2 years, and, after the report and how the school usually choose to manage issues, I'm not confident the longest serving one will be there for much longer.

They had 1 exception teacher who was the only one to survive the first cull. She left at Easter. I don't know whether it was her choice or she was actively forced out, but it's the one that really bothered me the most. She still comes along to events at the school and doesn't even live nearby.

The school are attending to the paperwork side of things properly now, and that seems like it's enough to get them a good. I did genuinely LOL at the covering letter from the school/MAT. It started off by saying how pleased they were to have Good for Leadership and Pupil behaviour and a load of waffle until they got to overall RI.

I do coldrain. I have been a governor for 20 years at 3 schools and I certainly talk to staff. I make it my business to go on school trips and engage with staff on many occasions. We have excellent retention at my current school and I actually resent you saying I don’t know the staff or the work they do. We are all proud of the children and educating them is a pleasure. You really have a dreadful attitude and I cannot see how you can be so cynical and still be teaching.

Op. Schools with Inadequate and RI always waffle about what they did actually manage to do well. They may not find much!

To be honest, this is a new broom situation. The Head and leadership are being supported to make sure weak teaching is eradicated. It could be they are enforcing new standards and wish to see “quality first” teaching. Teachers being new to the school doesn’t mean this cannot be achieved.

If the YR teacher comes back, I guess she cannot be too upset at going. Maybe she wanted to go. Perhaps she’s part time elsewhere. I think you cannot do anything other than support the new teachers. Time will tell if they are good teachers, but I hope so.

I am sorry if you find it offensive Buddybubbles. I am sure you do your best. I have been a governor too, and know its hard work, however, I have known many governors like you, and know how hard staff perform for them ( and what they say about them behind their backs) just your totally unrealistic perception of school life tells me you have swallowed the performance hook line and sinker