crappy ofsted report for chosen school!

[Elephantsbreath]

Ds has been offered a place at my first choice primary! I am a little astonished as it is heavily oversubscribed and we are a little out of its catchment.

Now I've read its very recent Ofsted report and it is really crap! Grade 3's throughout more or less. It mentions that the downward turn is probably because the headteacher was seconded elsewhere for a couple of years and is now back.

Oh dear. Do not know whether to bother with Ofsted or start sitting on waiting lists for other schools! What would you do?

Don't read too much into the report (esp. if Headteacher is coming back)
Our report wasn't that great 3's and a few 2's but all the parents are very happy with the school, and DS raves about it.

DD got her acceptance yesterday.
She's going.

What are the comments like? Did you like the school when you looked round?

my dd school got all grade 3 apart from a few grade 2 and she loves it. It is a good school apart from organisation and upper management leave alot to be desired. The teachers I have met are all caring.

ok thanks for these replies, feeling better.

Like everyone I went to incredible lengths to make the right choice. Yes Seeker I did really like it a lot when I went, esp the easy teacher/pupil relationships I noted.

The report mentions bullying, TWICE! - though says that good strategies are in place to deal with it - I'm a bit that it's an issue.

Also it rambles on a bit about teachers not giving clear indications about how they're doing and how to improve etc.

I actually think that it's a good think the report mentions bullying - it means that the issue is being addressed. Better than the "outstanding" schools, where the heads say things like"Oh, there's no bullying in THIS school"!

And if the 3s are largely for procedural stuff, the Head coming back will be able to tighten that up really quickly.

Did it feel happy and busy and purposeful? Did the teachers and the children smile. Was there a muted buzz f activity about the place? If yes, then don't worry about the Ofsted.

Oh, and there's nothing like a slightly dodgy Ofsted to concentrate the teacher's minds wonderfully!

yes Seeker it seemed buzzy and interesting, the kids chatty. I also liked the deputy who showed me around. Also I take your point about the bullying being exposed.

and at least its non denom - hurray!

Don't get too excited about the non-dom. So is ours, and they seem to pray at the drop of a hat!

oh.

oh well

Fun teasing the head teacher about it though!

Our school has an appalling Ofsted last year. It was inspected again 6m later and now has satisfactory or good in all categories. Caused by old head letting things go for too long, then leaving and the school having no head for a year. New head has already made a big difference. And the buzz in the school is and always fantastic, and the children happy.

interesting about non denom schools.

Ours is not a Cof E school per se, but prospectus mentions a Christian ethos and Easter, Christmas etc are taught, hymns are sung etc.

(other religions taught too btw)

elephants breath ur school was rated satisfactory a few years ago. It is a lovely school and the children and staff are super. I am very about Ofsted (part;y becuase of this.

if you liked the school then stick with yr choice.

I do like it Clary and the posters here have calmed me down a bit. I suppose the inspectors don't necessarily pick up on the things of great importance to me - like Seeker said, whether the teachers actually smile (they did).

The non denom thing puzzles me. In my area 50% primaries are C of E or Catholic so I would have thought that would cater well enough for the religious people leaving the non-denoms dreary hymn & prayer free. Clearly not!

Our lovely lovely school got grade 3s, but it is a fab school. I think ofsted just didn't 'get' what it was about tbh - they missed the lovely atmosphere, caring ethos, amazing extra-curricular stuff and wonderfully happy children and focussed on 'a few of the children don't get outstanding results at KS2'.

It is also a very mixed intake, but doesn't feel like that, largely because of the amazing atmosphere, and so I think it was marked down because they felt it was a more able intake than it was iyswim (there are some very able children, and some who really do struggle), and there is a high number of children with SENs - last year 20% of Y6.

So don't worry about the Ofsted - go with what you feel about the school.

As I undesrstand it the gov says that children should have a daily assembly of a "broadly christian nature" in every school irrespective of non denom or not.

You'll just have to deal with that the best you can!

Oh and the bullying thing - I'm always REALLY suspicious of a school that says 'there is no bullying here' - makes me think that what they really mean is 'the teachers don't notice any bullying that does happen.'

If you like the head and get a good vibe and your questions are answered satisfactorily, go with your gut instinct rather than Ofsted.
We have 2 local primaries, the one with super Ofsted we found lacklustre and very unimaginative.
The one with lower Ofsted we found zingy, with a proactive Head teacher and lovely school secretary and teachers.
We chose the latter school as it just seemed more prepared to take time with children who were suffer an excess of personality,which is our DD!