Very sudden ofsted. Why would you think?

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Sorry, I know nowt about Ofsted apart from the basics. Our school received notification yesterday afternoon that ofsted would be in today and tomorrow. It's a great school, outstanding and has been for a while. There are some teachers absent this term due to serious illness but otherwise it's fab and dd1 (in reception) is doing really well.

Why would you think they'd be so suddenly inspected like this? Is it usual?

It's my understanding that all Ofsteds are now 24/48 hours notice.

Hi GwendolineMaryLacey:

This is sudden but only as compared to how inspections used to go - as in given schools plenty of notice so they can prepare.

I think the way to view this is this should be in your interest - this is about inspectors seeing the school as it is - not a prepared floor show (which was what our school put in place - as in DCs 2 years on are still asking teachers to teach like they did when all those men in suits came to visit and commenting on how good lessons were those days).

As a parent you want the school staff to be on top of paperwork (computer data entry), to be offering well taught & well prepared lessons to be able to demonstrate (with very little effort) that they are helping certain categories of pupil to attain or exceed their targets.

HTH

Thanks both. I didn't realise they gave you such little notice now. This is my first child at school and and ofsted knowledge I get is from my mother who was a TA but retired about 5 years ago.

Yes, quite normal I think. Our school was inspected recently and they were told at lunchtime the day before the inspectors came. I think it's probably better that way tbh - 24 hour panic for the teachers but much better than them stressing about it for weeks in advance and putting loads of stuff in place that they wouldn't usually do!

Our teachers were obviously doing a brilliant job anyway, as they came out with an "outstanding" result in all categories! But then, we knew that before the inspectors even came! :)

That amount of notice is what happens now - was like that for DCs school in November last year.

They don't tell schools now until lunchtime the day before.

It's normal to be told at lunchtime and be inspected the next day.

Totally normal.

Less than 24 hours notice these days.

And you will wait about 3 weeks to see the result so if school closes for the holidays you might see it on the ofsted website before school tell you so bear that in mind

yep short notice now so perfectly normal.

Oh I wonder if your DC is at the same school as mine!!!

They got notice yesterday morning that Ofsted would be in today and tomorrow too (although it can't be as our school is not outstanding).

Thanks for that, it's really reassuring. They were last inspected in 2005 with a reduced tariff inspection (?) in 2008.

Where are you roughly simpson? :o

That's normal. The school would have been expecting it for a while as they are roughly every three years.

West London.

But my DC school is definately not outstanding, although I am happy with it

Apparently DD (reception) accosted one of the inspectors who came into her class to listen to her read

:D Good move there mini simpson. Our ones seemed to spend all day in reception with DD1's class. I am not in West London!

They were also in DS's yr3 class and he was most put off when they sat next to him!!

An ambulance was called today when a yr2 child knocked themselves out cold falling off a climbing frame, hope that does not count against the school....