What happens after an Ofsted 4?

[Changebagsandgladrags]

The local primary has gone into Ofsted 4 (unsatisfactory). The next nearest is 3, of which the Head is very proud

So what happens when a school gets a 4? It won't be closed down as there is too much demand here, it's over-subscribed even with its intake being raised to 120

Wouldn't it be put into special measures?

I think it goes into special measures - which means changes in management - eg sacking the head, or giving the school to another school to take over the running of it. Could improve it, but might take time. I would read the detail of the Ofsted and find out why. Same with the one that got a 3 (though I can't see why the Head is proud of this, unless he/she is opposed to the whole Ofsted regime and target/based approach)

My DC's school got a 3 three years back, due to some quite particular issues (eg staff ratios in the nursery and one or two other things). It remained a popular school and more recently got rated outstanding. I wouldn't say the school actually changed much between the two reports - the school's management just got better at doing the things they needed to do to tick the right boxes (eg downgradaing all the DCs in their Y2 SATS, so that they could demonstrate good progress by Y6, and endless revising for Y6 SATS - as well as correcting the things that the Ofsted had picked up). So wouldn't place too much store by Ofsted overall rating - I'd read the detail of what they have to say.

It will go into special measures. Usually thus means the head will leave and a new head will be bought in to 'rescue' the school.

HMI (Ofsted special branch, lol) will inspect the school 3/4 times a year to monitor progress and set targets for the school. It takes most schools 18-24 months to get out of special measures. Much less is not realistic.

Expect high levels of staff turnover now. It is very hard to work in a SM school.

It could be put in notice to improve. The school will get a lot of support in order to improve from the LA. The school will be paired with another school locating and possibly a 'super head' will be brought in. We were in special measures and came out after 16 months.

My school is in special measures (for the last 8 months). Expect a LOT of change,and stressed out staff/staff turnover . But, on the positive side, things will be so much better for the children, and the results will probably show quite quickly.

We also have an "executive" head and a new acting head.

You need to understand from the Ofsted report exactly what the problems are.
It could be that there have been technical issues such as child protection issues leading to the unsatisfactory rating. These are relatively easy to resolve. Much more of an issue is if the attainment of the pupils is not up to scratch and especially if this is combined with poor leadership and management. In the latter case this usually ends up with changes in the senior management.
What is clear is that there will be a lot of resource put into the school to get it back on track, but these things do take time and as others have said, 18 months to 2 years is typical before a school comes out of special measures which is when the HMIs are happy that the school is now at least satisfactory.

Depends on which LA you're in. If it's Haringey, the DfE will be in within a fortnight, giving your governing body a few weeks to decide to become an academy and find a sponsor, or your governing body will be disbanded, replaced with an IEB and your school will be handed over to a sponsor with a poor record at secondary and no experience with primary.

An Ofsted 4 doesn't automatically equate to Special Measures if the school has "the capacity to improve" it could be given "notice to improve".
Rosebud in my area some of the schools on the academy target list were graded outstanding at their last inspection but aren't safe

OK, well it had a 4 due to attainment, teaching (and I think leadership).

The other head mentioned on the tour that they'd just had their Ofsted back and it was available to view on their website. I said I would look and he said "yes do, do" which seemed to me like he was proud of it. Mind you, he appeared to not know what day it was.

A 4 could mean 'notice to improve'. If you have a good read of the report it will say what the school needs to improve. The school will probably also have an ofsted plan (call and ask for a copy?) and will be working to improve. Ofsted will come back in 6 months for an interim inspection, the. In 12 months for another full inspection. At either of those it could be moved to a 1, 2 or 3 or put into special measures.

A 4 for leadership would suggest they haven't got the capacity to improve so I would guess at Special Measures and a change of head

mrz, over one third on Haringey primaries are being targeted by the DfE. 27 in Birmingham and 100s all over the country.

50 in my LEA (including some rated outstanding)

Our school got a notice to improve and a new head.

It's intriguing how the media keeps talking about '200' schools when Gove started talking about 100s months ago.

You're Derbyshire, aren't you? How many primaries in total there, do you know?