WWYD if your 7 year old said "I am wasting my life at this school"

[suwoo]

School got a 4 in recent ofsted inspection and is now in special measures. I realise it will turn around and probably become very good, but do we want to wait? Have mentioned to DD (year 3) about possibly moving schools and she was very keen.

A big factor may be that her best friend is leaving in 3 weeks to another school- not the one we would be looking at.

She has been complaining all of year 2 that she is bored and is finding the work too easy. She is very able, got level 3's in SAT's. I mentioned briefly my concerns to the head after year 2, but her response was an emotional one about how disappointed she was after DD had won the headteachers award .

I need to speak to the head don't I?

Why would U not move schools? Is it inconvenient in some other way?

Moving is actually way more convenient. I'm really torn about this, I don't want it to be a knee jerk reaction to the ofsted.

I am expecting most people to say, stay where we are TBH.

were you aware the school was struggling before the ofsted? if you weren't then maybe not. But if you were maybe yes. I would be thinking about moving personally, but them I'm thinking of moving ds out of a ofsted graded 2 school because it is too big and chaotic.

and your dd's feeling should be taken into account. can you visit the other school with her and see what she thinks?

Yes, I was aware it was 'struggling'...kind of.

I will of course be taking DD's feelings into account, and she seems really keen. What if she hates it though, what then?

Here is my stealth reveal, the school is in an area of 'high socio-economic deprivation' (ofsteds words).

I have looked round today and the facilities are on a par with DD's. The children were well behaved and the teachers were very welcoming and came across very professionally.

I just want someone to decide for me. Better the devil you know and all that.

If dd wants to move and you have another convenient school I would consider it.

Two caveats though, my dd2 was very bored in yr2, all that tedious SATS work, but she has been much happier in yr 3 and now yr 4, the work did get more interesting and challenging. Science, history, languages, geography, more variation. I think yr2 is a particular low point for children who have covered the basics already.

and also, dd2's best friend left to be home educated and for ages dd2 also fantasised about being home educated, they are very influenced by a friend leaving. I don't have a problem with home education but dd2 is the most gregarious hyper-sociable child around and needs at least 30 children and a couple of adults around to satisfy her restlessness. She gets bored at home very quickly. but when a close friend left it set her off rather. so your dd might be reacting to her friend leaving rather than actually being unhappy at school.

SueWoo - forget the Ofsted report and listen to the fact that your dd is doing v well (level 3 sats) and, crucially is BORED and therefore not being stretched.

I would first of all talk to the Head about that and ask what can be done, and what they will do. But not helful that she responded as she did after your fist chat.

I'm not clear - which school has a deprived catchment? So does DS's - it has an Outstanding ofsted rating (about which I am pretty cynical in some ways), a lovely atmosphere, excellent behaviour (give or take some very very challenging individuals) and children are treated as individuals learning-wise.

I would strongly consider moving. Especially as your daughter is keen. I moved my son two terms ago because his school wasn't appropriate, and he adores his new school and has made loads of friends

The new school has the deprived catchment. It is however in my postcode, so what does that say?

Fennel's point is what is worrying me, she might be reacting to her friend leaving.

The Head of the potential school said they work within sets for maths so she could work in year 3/4/5 whichever is appropriate. They only have classroom based streaming for literacy.

In year 2, they had a crap supply teacher who IMO taught DD very little, she managed those SAT's results by herself.

Normally, I would trust my instinct but with this ishoo, I feel my instinct has run away and left me .

DD is my first child within the school system and a true pfb! I have two sons to consider who will also follow her through school and are unlikely to be quite as able, being mere boys

Have made an appointment with the current head for next Tuesday.

Does anyone else have any insight for me?

Please. I am really struggling with what to do for the best.

You need to forget about Ofsted, I think. Talk to the Head about what this school will do for your DD. I'm not sure what your problems are with it, other than a lack of confidence brought about by the Ofsted grading.

It's not unusual for brighter pupils not to be stretched masses in the state system, IME. You have to makke up a lot at home, do interesting trips, get lots of books to read and so on. The other school may not be much different in this regard. And the more you encourage your DD to say she's bored, the more she will say it - they all say that as they get older, just like we did

And, TBH, level 3s in yr2 aren't that uncommon. My DSs both got them and the younger one is bright-to-middling but nothing exceptional. It's easy to be fooled when it's your first child.

Thanks acanthus, I know all that and you are making really valid points as the voice of reason . I'm not sure what my problems are either, just an overall sense of dissatisfaction.

I will speak to the head next week and take it from there then.

Well, hopefully you can sort out the academic side by talking to the headteacher/classteacher.
I would be far more concerned about the social side. Does she have many friends there?
What's the general feel of the school?

I guess the problem is that if you are guing to move ner sooner rather than later would be best.
Hmmm. It's a herd one.I think I would speak to the teachers about this and see how it goes for the next couple of weeks

I wuld move her and I wouldn't be swayed by the head. IME they come out with all sorts of crap about what they will do for you.

I was unhappy with DD's school for sometime, saw the head who promised me the earth. Nothing really changed, 8 months later they failed their Ofsted. DD started a new school the day afetr the Ofsted report was published.

She was 8 at the time and has never looked back. At the end of the day you know better than the head if that school is OK for your DD. If she's also unhappy then thats even more reason.

DD lef ther school last Easter and it is getting worse rather than better, staff off sick with stress. Mainly supply teachers now. Still no consistency of marking, work setting, etc. It can take a long time for a school to improve.

Yes, and I suppose your child won't reap the benefits of the school improving as she is already in yr3

She's got lots of friends and is very popular, thats why I am taking her request seriously.

I am fully expecting the head to say what I want to hear, who says (apart from ofsted) that the new school will be better?

A teacher friend of mine says that Ofsted reports are based upon the improvements a school makes RE their pupil's education/development. So a school with a better ofsted report but low socioeconomic intake might just be making huge emprovements with children who are very low down on the educational scale to start with. So - I guess what i might be saying is while they may be improving the children's education at this new school it doesn't necssarily mean that they are teaching more interesting or advanced lessons and so your daughter may well remain as bored as she was in the old school, or may be more bored!

But then my teacher friend might be talking bollox.

Yes good point fanjo. It does say that pupils enter the school below average and leave the school 'broadly average'. It does however say that teaching standards are high and lessons are fast paced and fun and other words to that effect.

Current school has poor teaching and staff attendance. Also no improvements shown since last time. It says that able pupils are not stretched to their abilities and work sheets are far to widely used.

Fanjo - I don't think that's strictly true about OFSTED reports, sounds more like the Value Added Score that schools get. Ofsted look at whether or not a school is providing a good eduction.

Though I suppose a good eduction will improve a child's standards and should be able to do this no matetr whetehr the kid is below or above average on entering the school.

Definetly read the comments though, they're normally quite blunt.

When DD moved school I went for a look round and the head was so passionate I thought this has to be a better school. I looked at another school as well and wasn't as impressed even though their Ofsteds were very similar. I spoke to another parent at the school as well.

These are my views based on several years as a governor in various schools.

I would have to disagree with those who say 'ignore the ofsted report'. Schools do not get put into SM on a whim, it is extremely serious and usually means that EVERY area is failing - i.e. progress and results are poor, teaching is poor, management is poor and safeguarding is poor. If the head has been there for a few years, to get SM usually means s/he is hopeless TBH and will not be around much longer. Good heads do not allow their schools to go into SM, they identify the issues and then address them.

On the plus side, SM means that the council will be under huge pressure to improve the school, so this could mean a shake-up of staff including the management. Improving a school that's been in SM can take years, although some do manage rapid ascent. Personally I would not leave my dc in a SM school unless there was really no alternative. Kids only get one chance in life and your dd is already half way through her primary years.

Thanks manicmother, that is very valuable advice.

Any more?

The secondary school I am currently working in (not a teacher) was on the verge of closing about 7 or 8 years ago it was that bad. Had a succession of temporary heads. Current head has been there for about 6 years, it took him about 4 years to turn it around and he is a bloody good head.

So I am guessing a primary school might be quicker to turn around but even if you got a new excellent head next week I would say its gonna take him or her at least 2-3 years to turn it around. By that time your dd will have left. On that basis alone I would say to investigate all other options. Do you know if the other school has places?

The other school has 10 places in year 3.

IIRC it was a very undersubscribed year as the 'popular' school had places and DD's school only has 24 in her class.

Am hoping that a half empty class is not a danger sign?