I am pissed off that so many parents at my dc school are OBSESSED with getting its Ofsted rating improved

[bibbitybobbityhat]

Its like they really believe that is the most important thing the school needs to aim for, or something.

I feel at odds with some of these people who are results-driven, status-obsessed, blinkered, unimaginative tosseurs, tbh.

I think as long as the school is not failing,and has a caring and supportive ethos,and the children feel happy there and are doing the best they can this is what is important

Agree.

I also think its good to strive to improve the school but sometimes question if there really is that much difference between the Ofstead ratings. I also think you have to jump through too many hoops to be Outstanding that its probably not worth it.

But others disagree ggggrrrr.

Also you have to factor in all of the different demographics,too.

Df was a headteacher of an inner city school in a deprived area.During his tenure results improved but they were never going to get an outstanding rating.

He always said "I love the challenge,and we have great kids and teachers,but the fact remains you cannot always make a silk purse out of a sows ear"

I don't know about that, nobody talks to me up there .

That said, from group parent meetings and odd comments I've heard, a lot of parents at our school are quite bothered about their child's Yr6 SAT results. The local High School, wrt setting, only refers to the SAT results in the most borderline cases, they have two other ways of assessing pupils, but still some parents are very hot under the collar about anything that might lower their child's Yr6 SAT results.

Is it a property values thing, do you suppose? On top of bragging rights, of course.

Quite. I have enjoyed our little chat Mavis! Am glad you came back to Mn .

Weird. I can understand why people might obsess about ofsted ratings before their kids start school. But once your children are at the school, what's the point?

Strive to improve the school, of course, but jump through a bunch of hoops just to get a better rating? Why??!

Yes, property values and bragging rights.

We live in an area where property prices have absolutely shot up in the last 5 or 6 years. Its like a little enclave in a not particularly glamorous area.

DH makes the point that many of the 30-somethings with KS1 age children will have colossal salaries which should, on paper, be high enough to pay school fees. But they can't because of their massive mortgages. Yet, deep down, they still want private school results from a mixed intake inner London school.

Ah, property prices. Hadn't thought of that. I suppose there is a warped logic to it then. How sad. :(

Thanks :)

Maybe they are hoping that by raising the schools ofsted more people will move into the area attracted by the idea of a 'good' school - and this will in turn raise the overall image/standard of the school - thereby benefitting their own children?

(re property prices - this would probably backfire - as round here at least the catchements would shrink to around three streets, so unless your nose was pressed up against the school you would be out of any school catchment within a couple of years - and your house value would probably go down or stay stagnant).

Dd was in one of those schools- though I think it was the head who was obsessed rather than the parents. It was dreadful for dd, who has a chronic condition, to constantly have it rubbed into her that the attendance results were crucial for the school's Ofsted rating and that she was letting the school down. They would have been quite happy to improve the ratings by us taking dd out of their school.

She is now at a school where they take particular pride in the positive Ofsted comments about their high standard of pastoral care. That's another way of using Ofsted. I would always read the report rather than just looking at the summing up; that can hide a multitude of sins.

Oh yes, I completely agree about the attendance thing.

Tbh, I've never fully read an Ofsted report on my dc school! It is our closest school and has a very small catchment area. I knew when we applied that it wasn't dismal or failing and infact had a good reputation for pastoral care.

I think people get far too caught up in Ofsted ratings, tbh.

Bibbity, is it by any chance a school whose name starts with G? I was reading a local forum the other day where a number of parents seemed very hot under the collar about SATs results in one of their local schools, and your post struck a chord. So, so glad to be out of that phase now - mine are in sixth form/gap year!

I think there's an element of feeling vindicated in your choice of school, if that makes sense.

I felt a little smug when ds's school got an Outstanding (after being Good) while the upitself school that was far nearer to us when we applied for Reception got downgraded.

I am a bit of a twat, I accept. But when I enquired about visiting they pretty much told me there was no point as we lived in a council flat too far away. St Upitself's was undersubscribed for the first time that year, funnily enough. Which also made me feel a little smug. Knobbers

My DS is in Y1 of a school rated 'good'. They are very play orientated at reception, and now in Y1 are not pushy with reading. This attitude suits my DS (on the young side) fine, it works for him and it keeps him motivated and happy.

I think a school can only be 'outstanding' if it has outstanding results too, and not all the little one's are ready to be pushed so soon - in the long run that could backfire. A friend's DS in in such a school, but I think it suits that boy (he is already a free reader at age 6), mine would hate it or refuse to work.

A good ofsted keeps property prices up!

Schools with a mixed intake will find it harder to get a good ofsted ranking.

For example, our primary school gets below average sats results because it has a real mixed bag and a special unit on site.

To get good or above, we need to show that each child is making above average progress.

A school with an easy middle class intake that might be getting above average sats will be scrutinised less.

Your 'friends' shouldn't be looking at the school's averages but how their own child is doing. An average is just an average. Middle class parents can be painful! (I'm one but I'm not one; middle class in that I'm professional and very well qualified but not in that I'm relaxed about the children and the school).

I think I am middle class in the same way that you are builder.

There are pushy parents and there are disinterested parents and somewhere in between are the sensible parents, imho .

Trouble is, I think you need to be in the school system as a parent for a few years before you really understand (if ever) what Ofsted wants from schools.

I agree OP.

I know of a wonderful school, great standards, fantastic parent/teacher support however as certain paperwork wasnt filled in it was graded satisfactory.