Really upset about Ofsted report - advice much appreciated

[schooladviceplease2015]

We've found out our DD's school has got 'requires improvement' in its latest Ofsted report.

It was 'outstanding' and then 'good' and now this.

We only have her, and she's only been to this school (the nursery). She's due to start FT in Sept.

I have had a bad feeling about the school since her teacher more or less diagnosed her with a serious learning difficulty. We took DD to the doctors who said he didn't have any issues with her. It was an awful experience and the letter which was written to us still makes me feel sick when I read it.

DD is (in our opinion) so bright. But as first time parents we obviously took on what the teacher had to say.

We had parents evening last week and now - despite her teacher saying all this just weeks ago - there is 'no issue' with her.

It's so confusing. I'm still confused about it.

So that's our experience. But given we were totally clueless, didn't know what to make of it all. I now feel this latest turn of events confirms things aren't right at the school. Or does it?

I don't know what to do next. DH thinks I'm blowing things out of all proportion and would happily keep DD there.

I was questioning things as it was and now I'm pretty sure I don't want her to attend the school come Sept.

But she loves her teachers, she's made friends and I don't want an Ofsted rating to cause a knee jerk reaction that could significantly impact her in any way.

I'm so worried about it all. Advice appreciated.

schooladviceplease2015 - I question it because the report can't be damning if it has simply labelled the school requires improvement. What on earth would a report be described as if the school were "Inadequate," if "Requires Improvement" is damning? I would reserve "damning" for a school that inspectors do not believe can improve without either getting rid of the HT and governing body altogether or enforcing change upon them against their will. That is NOT what Ofsted believe according to the category you have stated the school has been given, which as others have said is the new wording for schools which used to be described as "satisfactory." Ofsted apparently believe the school has the capacity to improve by itself. If you don't believe that the school is good enough, then that is fine, but that is not because the Ofsted report is damning, it's because you aren't happy with the school.

Ofsted reports systematically pick the school apart; there's always room for improvement so they find those things they should improve and comment at length. No Ofsted report is truly glowing.

The worst report I ever read repeatedly said (in multiple sections) that the school had terrible leadership in almost all areas, that staff were demoralised & lessons were usually disorganised with unclear learning objectives and children who didn't engage or behave as a result. There were some other points repeatedly made in many areas that were about as negative, as well as some things that were done okay or comments on individual good teaching/practice. That school went into Special Measures.

How bad was your Ofsted report compared to that?

I moved my child to a good school and days later it got special measures.

Truth is it is a good school! I moved him from a nearly outstanding school which was and still in need of a whole new leadership team. That school was shocking.

Has it been the same headteacher the whole time the school has gone from outstanding to good to RI? How long ago was it outstanding? How long ago good? If it has been inspected again only a short while after receiving a "good" then the problem is likely to be SATs results or a triggering complaint as, otherwise, good schools are left alone for years, so that Ofsted can focus on schools which require improvement or are inadequate. What is staff turnover like? What do other parents say about the school? Has anyone had a similar unfortunate experience to yours, or do you appear to be a one-off? Why did you choose the school in the first place? How experienced was the teacher who made the obscure judgement about your dd? What did she say her reasons were for doing this? When you have been into the school, what did you feel about the learning environment, children's behaviour, and quality of work that you were allowed to see? Did the school seem open and welcoming, or unfriendly? What does your dd like about the school?

It might be helpful to ask yourself questions like the above to try and unpick what might really be going on at the school and how concerning that really is to you. At the end of the day, you might end up stuck with this school, anyway, so for your own sanity, it is better to try and be objective and calm, even if your gut feeling is that your dd ought to move elsewhere.

It's really hard this as I don't want to identify myself by giving quotes or going into depth.

But given the content of the report it is honestly not a report where I'd think 'oh yes, it's still a pretty good this school, there just needs some fine tuning before it's back to good.'

The report reads the school needs to improve in 95% of areas and contains very concerning statements from start to finish. If RI was replaced with 'special measures' it wouldn't surprise me.

I think the test results have perhaps prevented that as they are good.

I have taken all that's been said on board. And I feel far more level now thanks to what everyone has said. I won't be moving her as a knee-jerk given how happy and settled she is there.

I will wait until April 16 and go from there. She will see the year out there too. It's just September I'm worrying about. Given she's still only three perhaps it's time to make that break.

Thank you. It's confusing for me as a parent is Ofsted. Teacher friends rubbish it.

So how is it that awful a school if the figures (aka pupil progress/ great results are ok)?

She's only young, she will adjust to a new school. Perfect time to move/change rather then in year 3 when work is more serious and less play based.

I don't know tobysmum. We can't really understand why. But I suppose it's not all about results is it?

Our school has gone from outstanding to good to inadequate. Most of the parents are pooh-poohing the whole report. The school is lovely and the kids all seem to be thriving and achieving. They do so much more than just academic work. There's lots of emphasis on sports and music and drama, for instance. Most of the parent body seems to be of the opinion that Ofsted and indeed the whole of the current government are a waste of time and that their report isn't worth the paper it's printed on. I have to say I admire their support for the school. I think it's a lovely school too and as both my children are doing really well and are very happy I wouldn't dream of taking them out. They're a bit older than yours though and much more settled.

OP, if you want to PM me with the name of the school and the LA I will look at the current and previous Ofsted inspection reports and give you my viewpoint on how bad or otherwise it is. I fully accept that you do not want to out yourself on the open web and at least by letting me have a look you get an outside view of the situation.
Ofsted get bad press but they are usually more right than people give them credit for.

I think getting behind the school and banding together with the other parents is a fantastic thing to do.

If we don't move (not much interest at mo) and this becomes DDs FT school then that is the way forward now.

It helps to know this grading is potentially quite transient too.

I think school that the current framework is very much about results and management, little else.

My dds school was very unfortunate because there were management problems coupled with a one year dip in SATs results. It can happen to any school, honestly.

I became a governor at the DC's school after it went into special measures and I am VERY well-versed in Ofsted reports. If you want me to have a look at the report, send me a PM. And try not to panic. It could be a bad report based on many things, some if which could change just like that.