How much do you consider Ofsted inspection findings when choosing a school?

[NoahAndTheWhale]

We are moving house by September and over the past couple of days I have visited lots of schools in our new general area, to work out where we want DS and DD to go to school and hence where we want to live.

One of the schools I liked best has a grade 3 but said to be rapidly improving. It was inspected last month, so it is a recent judgement. Conversely the only school I was looking at that was graded level 1 is one I didn't like.

We never made an active decision about the school DS (and now DD as well) went to - it is our village school (which is great, and did receive a grade 1 from ofsted when last inspected).

I think I am starting to distrust my own intuition on schools - maybe I need someone to tell me I can trust my own feelings .

A local school, with 600 children, had ONE inspector for ONE day in order to be classed as outstanding. What, exactly, can be shown in one day, with that number of children and the accompanying number of staff in that school? It's laughable.

I've been through 3 inspections. Not worth the paper they're written on, and it's getting steadily worse. All based on SATs results nowadays rather than what actually goes on in schools.

Look round and trust your gut!

I do have a look at them and must admit I get put off by the ones with a 3 inspection. However, some of the schools haven't been inspected for years and a lot can change in that time. I recently went to visit an "outstanding" nursery for my son. I disliked it, it was tiny, pokey and the equipment looked poor, hardly any children's work displayed...hardly any role play equipment out, it just didn't look a nice place to engage my child. I want him to be happy and then be excited about going on to Primary school.

Kaekae,
What you describe is exactly why parents should trust their own intuition as much as any OFSTED report.
Things like "hardly any children's work displayed...hardly any role play equipment out" are exactly what any parent should be looking for and making your decision on. How welcoming is the school? Who shows you round? Do they let you go anywhere in the school or are you confined to an office!
OFSTED inspections reports in my opinion should be the second line of confirmation after you have been and seen the schools.