'Outstanding' ofsted gradings are getting rediculous.

[4point2fleet]

Honestly, some school's 'outstanding' grades are now so out of date it is becoming laughable.

A thing popped up on my newsfeed about 'England's worst primary schools' (not meeting floor standards). I scrolled through and a school in Esher was on there. I thought this odd as it is in such an affluent area, so I googled.

Front page of website says this:

Our most recent Ofsted inspection concluded:
‘This is an outstanding school. Pupils make outstanding progress and, as a result, standards are exceptionally high by the end of Years 2 and 6. Pupils benefit from an exciting, innovative curriculum and outstanding teaching’.

Most recent Ofsted was 2007.

In reality, 17/18 writing progress score was -7.9. No single child made Greater Depth in all 3 areas. Only 54% met expectations in all 3 areas, compared to 64% nationally.

So which is it?? Outstanding or one of the worst in England? How many of the 'worst' schools are on 'outstanding' gradings?

I think if schools have been rated outstanding they only get soft touch inspections unless the results take a dive...

They don’t get any inspections at all!

10 years ago it probably was outstanding. Doesn’t mean it is now though, as you’ve learnt.

Yes, Georgie that is the point I am making. But they still get to plaster 'this is an outstanding school' all over place.

When will Ofsted wake up and go round and re-inspect them?

They won't, because it would cost money.

YANBU, it is absurd. Schools can change drastically in a couple of years, let alone a decade. The report is older than the vast majority of the pupils!

I do completely agree. I’m currently an outstanding cm but I will still get inspected, albeit usually a bit later than others in the inspection cycle.

DDs school has just gone from Outstanding (2010) to RI (July). It really is ridiculous.

Did you mean to spell ridiculous as rediculous?

Ofsted don't just inspect schools. I have experience of their inspections in children's homes. The larger companies manage these inspections and reg 44s like accomplished stage managers. The inspectors seem quite gullible in my experience. Staff and children most likely to raise concerns are sent out. Inspectors are given managed tours and shut in the office away from the daily routines and staff. I can well imagine some schools do pull the wool over their eyes too.

it is ridiculous isn't it - but the individual schools are naughty too. They should do their own evaluation that is honest and if they don't believe they are still outstanding they should remove it from their letterheads, banners and website - although obviously they have to link to the report and it is the 'official' grade. I worked at a school where the governors wrote to all families saying the school is no longer outstanding and we are working hard to get it back up to where it should be. Ofsted turned up 18 months later in our case.

Did you mean to spell ridiculous as rediculous?

Sorry Mini. Did you struggle to interpret the gist of my post due to the typo?

One problem with linking results to quality is that results can be misleading in schools with very small cohorts. The top of our regional league table the last time I looked was a school with only 2 classes, so it's down to luck of the draw, they only have a pool of a few pupils each year. If 5 out of 5 of their year 6s next year happen to not be very bright they will plummet to the bottom no matter how outstanding their teachers are.

Schools cannot pull the wool over ofsted eyes anymore. As a teacher, I have a lot more Respect for ofsted than I used to. The head of ofsted is trying to change it so outstanding schools are inspected on actors like the others.

I was laughing, I guessed it was a typo. I get the gist and agree.

Ofsted are stretched. They are not carrying out inspections as often as they should. They will if someone raises concerns, and they inspect new provisions and like the CQC they regularly inspect provisions rated poor or for improvement. A lot can change in a few years.

Small cohorts are dealt with quite well - they certainly can’t be used to obfuscate. Progress scores are also awarded average, above average etc grades, which have confidence intervals that vary with cohort size. A small cohort school with a progress score of +3 may be average, but for a larger, two form entry school, +3 may be well above average. This is clearly indicated on the .gov.uk website.

I’ve done two OFSTEDs and thought both were fair and accurate assemments of the school at that time (including the bad one). There is so much rubbish talked about OFSTED, mainly by heads that are out of their depth.

I do agree that any Outstanding judgement that predates the 2015 inspection framework is useless.

We saw a primary yesterday that was given its 'outstanding' in 2006! It is on its third head since then. Crazy system

Rediculous instead of ridiculous isn't a typo as the e and the i are nowhere near each other on the keyboard. It was a spelling mistake.

But apart from that I'm really shocked that Ofsted Outstanding schools aren't inspected as frequently as all the other schools. I guess I was unaware as my dc have never been in an "outstanding" school.

But what a farce eh?

DD's school is "outstanding" last Ofsted 2008. The previous inspection or two also were but it's ridiculously out of date now. Same headteacher but still.

A local school was last inspected over 13 years ago. There isn't a single member of staff from that time still working in the school.

I agree, it's ridiculous. Inspect all schools every three years, obviously more frequently if they are then found to be having problems.

‘Rediculous’ spelt ‘ridiculous’ is a common spelling error, not a typo.

Doesn’t alter anyone’s ability to understand the thread, but is ironic when occurring in the title of a thread about monitoring of academic standards.

That’s probably why people are picking up on it, I think.

Or indeed vice versa, if you are sleep deprived! 😂

Picking up on spelling mistakes is pompous and unnecessary. There are many reasons why someone may struggle with spelling. That doesn’t mean they aren’t entitled to have and express opinions. Bad form. Bad form.

My DCs school was rated Outstanding in 2006, had an interim inspection in 2010, and nothing since!

However, it's got the same Head and Deputy Head, and they'd like Ofsted to reinspect them because they'd like an up-to-date report but they won't come - I suspect that barring any major incidents they won't come again till the current head retires.

However, a couple of years ago they paid for a private assessment from an former Ofsted inspector, who said in his opinion they'd likely still be graded as Outstanding; and the results are great, and it regularly features in The Times list of best state primaries. Also it's just really lovely and my DC are thriving there.

There's another local "Outstanding" primary that's clearly resting on its laurels though, and it shows.

My dd is at an infants school thy was rated outstanding exactly 10 years ago.
I have my doubts that is it outstanding and would be interested in them having a re-inspection. Doubt that'll happen though!

I wouldn’t put a dog in local outstanding school