Allocated 1st choice-but it's 'inadequate'.

[MESSING2]

Heard today that we've got our first choice school, but rather than being delighted we have mixed feelings about it- because their latest OFSTED (from last month) is a grade 4, inadequate including, rather worryingly, inadequate teaching and learning. Obviously, if we'd known this when applying we wouldn't have put it it on the list, or at least not in first place. but I don't know what to do now- when we looked around the school it seemed fine, better than many others in the area. I am completely shocked about the report and don't know whether to go on a waiting list for another school
or just stick with it and hope they get their act together by the time DS starts in Sept. sorry for rambling on, any
thoughts welcome.

Holiday DDs senior school was good with outstanding features 4years ago, then satisfactory, it then was put in special measures only to be declared good exactly a year later.

It's an utter and complete farce, huge amount of stress and wasted money and it makes very little substantive difference to the pupils.

If there is a new head then in all likelihood it will be fine. I think an inadequate or require improvement grading is only really a problem when there is no structural change to the school

I've had experience of an outstanding school, a good school and a require improvement school.

The overall experience of the require improvement school was the most positive of the three. They are much more likely to listen to any concerns you have and to be willing to change things.

Having been working in a school that went into special measures,is now out but "requires improvement" let me tell you that ALL the stops will be pulled out and the school will be anxious to turn this decision around ASAP!We are waiting for a further inspection where we expect to be "good".

Don't give up on this school,as the education your child will receive should be fantastic as everyone falls over themselves to make sure all is as it needs to be.

I think OP you need to give a bit more information about what the report says because if nearly every category is a 3 or 4 there are problems. What you have to do is trust the leadership of the school to sort it out. Also, Ofsted is not about popping in for a few days and making a snap judgement. There are the dashboard statistics which tell you, as a parent, how well this school is doing in comparison to other similar schools. It maybe with their intake of children that average or below average results are not good enough and they have coasted. Very few schools are now grade 4 and there must be unresolved issues for this to have happened, not just older children not being sufficiently stimulated.

Of course a school can have poor reception but you need to look at what the report actually says about children starting the school and how well they are taught in early years. I suspect there are quality of teaching and quality of learning issues and I bet the Governors are not too hot either although it now probably has some new ones. Ask to see the school's improvement plan if you can because this will tell you where they are targeting resources for improvement. I think it is unlikely a level 4 is nothing that will worry you OP, but asking what the school is doing to improve will help you evaluate the problems.

er ok milly molly so you've read all of the reports have you. One or two big caveats:
An intake of 28 is not a statistically reliable number to compare anything.
The similar schools in the dashboard are anything but similar (certainly in the case of dd's school anyway).
The only important stats apart from in massive schools are the progress ones. The dashboard is flawed also in that it concentrates on the lowest achievement rather than the achievement in relation to getting 5s and 6s.

It is much easier to get 4 than it used to be but most Schools are much better than they used to be. Of course it means there are problems but there are lots of things that can easily lead to any school getting 3s at least if they are not highly vigilant.

If anyone has the time/inclination to look through it and give me their thoughts, I'll gratefully PM a link to the report.
I left a phone message about meeting with new headteacher, hopefully will hear back soon.

Most categories were a 3 or 4, but then I guess they would have to be to get overall grade 4, unlikely to be anything outstanding.
It seems like they were particularly punished for not improving on points picked up in previous (good) inspection, especially with teaching & learning issues.

jamdonut- that's encouraging about staff working hard to pull the school up, I can imagine it must be incredibly demotivating to get a poor report.

I'm quite happy to have a look, am a bit obsessive about reading reports, another one won't hurt!

Thanks tobysmum, will send it over .

Happy to look too if you want a second opinion. I could put my governor hat on if you like.

Thank you, Martorana.

Have arranged to meet with the head early next week. Ridiculously nervous about it.