Feel rather sorry for the teachers at DC's school who've just told to expect OFSTED next week

[purpleturtle]

The last inspection at the end of June resulted in the school going into Special Measures, so the 'threat' of OFsted returning within 6 months has been hanging over them all ever since. I think by this stage in the term they were expecting it to be the beginning of next term now.

Everybody - staff and pupils - have worked extremely hard this term. They're still properly working in class this week, and had loads of fun stuff lined up for next week. Now that Ofsted are coming the parties and cinema trip have been rescheduled, thankfully to later in the week.

I know the kids will still have their fun, but the poor teachers must be beside themselves.

Doh.
Title should obviously read: just been told

PT - thats tough, everyone knows next week is just plays and parties in all school, thats so unfair for an inspection

Really tough. My Mum teachers has had had hers this week. I don't know why they don't do regular surprise inspection rather than sending them into a state of frenzy.

The last time they were inspected it was a time of year when quite a lot of schools have eased up a bit - post SATS and all that. Now, to be honest, ours had probably eased up rather too much, rather too early, and that is certainly reflected in the outcome of the inspection. Afterwards DD's teacher noticeably pulled her socks up, and they worked pretty well then up to the end of term.

I just wish Ofsted had come a few weeks ago. I think everybody could really do with some encouragement now. They really have been working hard - and it feels like the opposite is happening.

Do you think Ofsted will be making allowances for it being the week before Christmas?

But children are WILD and DEMONIC at this time of year! I really, really feel sorry for them.

We had ours yesterday and today!

What a dreadful week for OFSTED to come.
The last week before Christmas is supposed to be all about having some festive fun, lots of glittery craft, lots of singing of Christmas songs, etc. Certainly shouldn't be for OFSTED.

Hope it goes ok.

I so hope Ofsted remember that.

We're cracking open the glitter today, Hulababy! Here comes Christmas....

yes thats a bad time for an inspection, everyone is on wind down (lots of our staff are off sick) the school is a tip with tinsel and nativity costumes shoved into every available cupboard and spare room. The inspectors shoulds take the time of year into account

You know the more you think about it, the more mad it seems. OFSTED are surely not stupid. Even they shuld be able to work out that the last week before Christmas is not a good time to inspect ANY school. Even the most high performing of schools will be awash with glitter and fake snow, extra assemblies, lots of pay and not much formal work - as it should be IMO. It really makes you wonder about OFSTED TBH when thy arrange an inspection like this.

oh gosh how silly to do it next week. DS's schools are both "excellent" schools (both according to Ofsted and myself).

Next week will be rehearsal after rehearsal for the Nativities at the end of the week, getting sort for the Christmas fair and all sorts of other fun stuff - with very little "learning" going on at all.

Hopefully Ofsted inspectors will bare (bear?) in mind that it's the last week before Christmas..

ahh yes - and I see Hulababy has said the same thing as me (only better).

Doesn't seem very fair at all. I teach in a challenge school (not on Fridays though so I'm not skiving) and we are likely to get an inspection soon, I can't remember if they give 24 or 48 hours notice now, but we certainly aren't out of the woods for this term. Nightmare.

We had an ofsted a few years ago in the last week of the summer term. All the displays had been taken down and lots of the work we had started to send home had to be recalled- total lunacy. I just can't believe they would do one in the last week of the Autumn term- madness.

I can imagine with Ofsted you could be damned if you do and damned if you don't in the last week before Christmas.

• "proper" work going on, not much glittery, christmassy stuff going on -........well they'd probably say you should have been doing more to celebrate the season blahh blah blah

• what goes in all schools in that week of term............well you should have been doing proper work. blah blah blah

How awful!

We were put in special measures about 3yrs ago but came out after about 17m. If it's any comfort the first 6m inspection showed big improvements and the inspectors were much less abrasive.

But I do feel for the teachers

Thanks for that OrmIrian. I am hoping that the inspectors notice all the work that's been done this term (and over the summer, actually).

That is just pants. Hoping your experience is similar to OrmIrian's.

We had 48 hours notice. We got the call on Monday and they were in on Wednesday and Thursday.

In my optimism I would hope that OFSTED would EXPECT all the children to be singing/ acting and covered in glitter. The new curriculum actively encourages this type of learning and this is the direction we should be moving in- using opportunities the children anr interested in rather than having them as a bolt on part of school life. T
he play, the decorations, the lunch, the party...that IS the curriculum. All they will want to see is that the teachers are capitalising on the opportunities for learning.
Have they organised their own party in a democratic way using their maths/ict skills?
Have they written the play? Di they compse the accompanient for the carols? Did they design and make their costumes?

spudmasher - your comments could either be
a) cynical, or
b) from someone who works in a much better school than I do!!

Our school was given notice to improve 6mths ago , they were revisited on Wednesday this week. The day the infants and juniors were doing their Christmas plays. I'm sure they sawnothing like a normal school day,so could not judge on any changes.