Devastating OFSTED. Should I change schools?

[jlt23]

My 4yr old is in reception class at school. We have just had notification of the OFSTED report which is absolutely awful. The school has gone from one of the best in the area to the absolute worst. Completely inadequate across the board including health, safety and welfare. It states that the decline of the school is set to continue and they have been placed on special measures. Would I be to hasty in looking to move her to another school? Would love to hear what other Mums would do.

Actually OP, I am wondering if you are in the south-west?

I think OP said she's in Leicestershire.

This is happening all over the country - privatisation by stealth.

What would everybody do now. Do I keep her there or move. The school I would move to remember my kids, would like them there but are at a limit. They have asked me to apply via admissions. Please what do I do?

Only you can decide that - you've had a range of views and advice on this thread. I can understand your panic, but maybe best not to make drastic decisions in a state of high emotion.

Do you have a DP, friends or family who know you, your children and the school involved to talk this through with?

The criteria have changed massively, and a lot of schools, especially those who were good to outstanding, are being 'caught out'. What grates is that this seems the point-new frameworks were introduced without any lag so schools could adjust, and without anyone having the time to put the CPD measures in place to help schools move to what a new style inspection wanted. It is perfectly possible that someone viewing a lesson which last time was good-outstanding may rate it inadequate under the present system, even though little has changed. Safeguarding was a limiting judgment even under the old framework (it supposedly isn't now), although again it should be noted that failure doesn't necessarily pose a threat to kids-an unauthorised adult is more likely to be a parent who has nipped in to speak to a teacher, not a predatory sex offender.

What would worry me more is that the governors and head are viewed as not capable of responding. They have had 5 months to show movement in the right direction, decide how to portray the school in the best light, and how to continue. Ultimately that is a serious worry, since their inability to portray the school favourably will affect aspects of your child's education.

I would ask to see a lesson, talk to parents in other years. Are they unhappy, do they feel this is a school in decline or the same school being harshly judged for whatever reason?

Then you can decide, just as you did when selecting the school in the first place.