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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Failing local school

18 replies

blue22 · 16/02/2011 11:54

Our local village school is failing by its current ofsted report and in special measures.
It's also a 'larger than average' school and both these reasons put me off.
But we live on the same road as the school so I'm wondering how the place allocation system works - if I put down 3 schools and don't include our village school - can they still 'make' DD go there?
TIA and sorry for stupid questions

OP posts:

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AMumInScotland · 16/02/2011 12:00

If you don't get a place at any of the ones you apply for, then they will offer you a place at any school in the area which has places, it might be the local one, or it might be one much the same but further away!

You can stay on waiting lists for schools you'd prefer, but they only have to offer you a place at any school, whatever your preferences are.

They can't utterly force you to send your child there, but you'd have to Home Educate if you can't accept anything they are offering.

IndigoBell · 16/02/2011 12:04

I can see why you're put off by a school in special measures. But again it depends why it's in special measures, and what's being done as to whether or not that should concern you...

But, don't be put off by the school being large. There are many many advantages to a school being large.

OffToNarnia · 16/02/2011 12:11

I think IndigoBell is right - you need to investigate more about the special measures school. Are they bringing in a new head to 'sort it out'? The school sure as hell will be on its toes and shaken up a bit as a consequence of poor ofsted. You may find it quickly becomes an improving school but you need more info. Don't write it off yet, but do some homework!

Original poster

blue22 · 16/02/2011 12:16

Thanks - that's good advice. I agree and I like the thought of supporting the local school and DD making friends with other children in the village. I just don't want to send her to a school which is not academically 'up to scratch' if that makes sense.

OP posts:

Anice · 16/02/2011 12:20

blue22 - have a look at my thread from today and you will see exactly what can happen if you get the school choice wrong

Link

IndigoBell · 16/02/2011 12:22

Yes, but it could be in special measures for any number of reasons. For example the CRB checks might have not been up to date, or the front gate wasn't deemed safe, or a supply teacher didn't know who the child protection officer was......

Look at the league tables. The CVA score and %making expected progress are the most important bits of those scores.....

There are a lot of benefits to going to your local school. Make sure it really is a bad school before you rule it out....

OffToNarnia · 16/02/2011 12:40

The school my ds is at was a satisfactory school which took over a failing school down the road. The 'whole school' 3 years later is now 'good'. Older pupils are still receiving extra support as they have been 'let down' previously and need support to catch up. For the younger kids the school is a great one to join as the teachers are buzzing with a sense of achievement and enthusiasm for the children and the school. Also the school has received a lot of LEA support and financial support in order for it to improve. I live in the same road as the school and I am glad I did not run away from it 3 years ago when my DS started the school nursery.

DanFmDorking · 16/02/2011 21:36

Good points made earlier. Get a copy of the Ofsted report and find out what the problems are.

When a school is put into 'special measures' the following is true:-

The worst is over; the school is now getting better,
The County Education Dept know the problems and will be pouring extra money/time/resources into the school to take it out of special measures,
The Staff and Governors know the problems and are sorting them out now.

The school will be getting regular short inspections (roughly 2 or 3 per year) from Ofsted to check progress.

Remember:- Because of the extra money, time and effort, when the school comes out of ?special measures? it will arguably be the best school for miles around.

Ooopsadaisy · 16/02/2011 21:42

In my experience councils throw all resources at failing schools to make them better.

DS and DD both went to local school in Special Measures.

Both now at Secondary and doing great.

ellina · 17/02/2011 00:03

I'd be looking into why it's on special measures. We have two schools here in special measures.

One is on a par with all the Ofsted rated "good" ones in terms of league tables.

The other rates very low in the league tables. It's had two fantastic heads in the last few years, neither of whom have been able to turn it around. There are rumours about bullying and it's in a largely deprived part of town.

I would be perfectly happy with the first one, but not the second. Quite a few people within the catchment of the second school chose three others in the area and were "diverted" back to the failing one.

ReadingMan · 17/02/2011 01:01

If it is in special measures I would sure as hell be giving it a miss as I wouldn't want to chance my DC's education on a clearly failing school. Special measures is not because of the gate not being the appropriate height - it is much more serious that that.

I'm afraid there are too much 'apologistes' for failing education on MN - attempting to prop up the CVA is another lefty example of making good out of the poor performance.

OffToNarnia · 17/02/2011 07:44

I feel I have been open minded with the school. I did not send my son there blindly. The children HAD been let down, and there was a mass of issues to sort out. However this school has turned itself around and I support and commend it. I do think the OP needs to talk to the head after reading the ofsted report to get a clear picture of what has been going on and what improvement plans have been put in place. THEN she can make an 'informed' choice rather than a knee jerk reaction. The school may be right for her child, it may not...a bit of investigation before writing it off will do no harm...

magdalene · 17/02/2011 17:44

Well said ReadingMan. What the hell is CVA anyway? I would be wary of sending my child to a school in special measures and would definitely be looking around for another school.

supersewer · 18/02/2011 11:54

the other side of the coin is that if it is in special measures the powers that be will be watching and they have an obligation to support it and help it out of special measures - this could mean it is supported to becoming a good school?! just a thought!

OffToNarnia · 18/02/2011 12:26

It does happen supersewer! I have witnessed such a turnaround with my son's school.

nymphadora · 18/02/2011 12:59

Readingman- does happen. Safeguarding is an automatic fail & that can be as obvious as door not shut/ID not checked/form not completed properly (all seen locally)

nlondondad · 18/02/2011 17:00

I would just endorse the point that sending a child to a school AFTER it has been put into special measures is sending a child into a school which will now be getting special support to improve; and indeed can be a very good time to send your child. Its having a child in a school just BEFORE it goes into special measures....that is a bit of a bummer!

nlondondad · 18/02/2011 17:04

I fear ReadingMan that you are coming across as ill informed; also inadvisable to assume that anyone who disagrees with you is ideologically driven, and a "lefty".

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