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Original poster

How honest are you on the Ofsted survey?

12 replies

Geordiebabe85 · 05/01/2025 12:09

Due Ofsted any day and I'm in a dilemma how to answer their survey, particularly the question about leadership. Do I be honest and give examples of the headteacher's attitude to staff, his ignoring of bullying and the dozens of days off, or do I toe the party line and say all is well?
My feeling is that if none of us are honest then things will never change. However, i also know what the potential consequences could be.

OP posts:
BoleynMemories13 · 05/01/2025 12:23

There are no consequences, as it's anonymous, but don't expect it to have an effect.

I was at my wits end at a previous school when Ofsted called in 2018. I stated that, as a staff member, I was unsupported and that behaviour in school wasn't dealt with effectively. The school received a glowing report, citing both leadership and behaviour as good. I didn't recognise the school when reading the report. It sounded such a lovely, happy place to be (made me lose faith in Ofsted too).

I guess if everyone is experiencing the same sh*t show, and everyone is brave enough to be honest, Ofsted may take notice. Sadly I suspect, despite knowing I wasn't alone in how I was feeling, I was the only one to be honest about it at the time. I guess if it's a one off negative response it just looks like you have a grudge and gets ignored. Ofsted are probably looking for patterns, much like with the parent surveys or discussions with pupils. One or two negative responses will be brushed aside, but a collective negative experience would probably raise eyebrows.

I'd never responded like that before, and hopefully will never feel the need to again, but it's definitely better to be honest.

I hope for your sake you're able to get out of there soon. Leaving my previous school was the best decision I ever made.

Original poster
Geordiebabe85 · 05/01/2025 12:42

BoleynMemories13 · 05/01/2025 12:23

There are no consequences, as it's anonymous, but don't expect it to have an effect.

I was at my wits end at a previous school when Ofsted called in 2018. I stated that, as a staff member, I was unsupported and that behaviour in school wasn't dealt with effectively. The school received a glowing report, citing both leadership and behaviour as good. I didn't recognise the school when reading the report. It sounded such a lovely, happy place to be (made me lose faith in Ofsted too).

I guess if everyone is experiencing the same sh*t show, and everyone is brave enough to be honest, Ofsted may take notice. Sadly I suspect, despite knowing I wasn't alone in how I was feeling, I was the only one to be honest about it at the time. I guess if it's a one off negative response it just looks like you have a grudge and gets ignored. Ofsted are probably looking for patterns, much like with the parent surveys or discussions with pupils. One or two negative responses will be brushed aside, but a collective negative experience would probably raise eyebrows.

I'd never responded like that before, and hopefully will never feel the need to again, but it's definitely better to be honest.

I hope for your sake you're able to get out of there soon. Leaving my previous school was the best decision I ever made.

Thank you for sharing your experience. My worry is that id be the only one (despite knowing others feel the same) and it would just be brushed under the carpet. The head can talk the talk too so i suspect we'll get a glowing report which we don't deserve.

OP posts:
mrsmilesmatheson · 05/01/2025 15:14

Vote with your feet?

Ofsted do look for patterns though. If several members of staff say similar things, it will flag up.

I'm a parent and our (previously outstanding) grammar school got RI partly because so many parents and staff (i know lots of them personally as im a teacher at a nearby school) wrote about the same concerns on the survey. Ofsted did take note and investigated accordingly. It was all a bit if a scandal locally but apparently the school is now a much nicer place to work and has much improved.

Original poster
Geordiebabe85 · 05/01/2025 16:43

mrsmilesmatheson · 05/01/2025 15:14

Vote with your feet?

Ofsted do look for patterns though. If several members of staff say similar things, it will flag up.

I'm a parent and our (previously outstanding) grammar school got RI partly because so many parents and staff (i know lots of them personally as im a teacher at a nearby school) wrote about the same concerns on the survey. Ofsted did take note and investigated accordingly. It was all a bit if a scandal locally but apparently the school is now a much nicer place to work and has much improved.

Unfortunately leaving isn't an option at the mo for many reasons. Hopefully other people will also be honest and if we all say similar then it may be enough for them to at least ask questions.

OP posts:
thebookeatinggirl · 05/01/2025 20:27

I had many issues that I could have raised around work load and lack of consideration for well-being and work/life balance. The inspector asked us about it specifically. But we were a small primary school and desperately trying to maintain the 'good' outcome. Jobs are scarce near me, especially UPS, so moving schools is very tricky and I couldn't face even MORE workload and pressure that would come with a 'requires improvement' judgement. So I said nothing and felt crap, and we got 'good' and so it continues.

Original poster
Geordiebabe85 · 05/01/2025 21:48

thebookeatinggirl · 05/01/2025 20:27

I had many issues that I could have raised around work load and lack of consideration for well-being and work/life balance. The inspector asked us about it specifically. But we were a small primary school and desperately trying to maintain the 'good' outcome. Jobs are scarce near me, especially UPS, so moving schools is very tricky and I couldn't face even MORE workload and pressure that would come with a 'requires improvement' judgement. So I said nothing and felt crap, and we got 'good' and so it continues.

An RI judgement does worry me and what that will bring. Maybe it's better to shut up and put up.

OP posts:
good96 · 06/01/2025 16:36

Geordiebabe85 · 05/01/2025 12:09

Due Ofsted any day and I'm in a dilemma how to answer their survey, particularly the question about leadership. Do I be honest and give examples of the headteacher's attitude to staff, his ignoring of bullying and the dozens of days off, or do I toe the party line and say all is well?
My feeling is that if none of us are honest then things will never change. However, i also know what the potential consequences could be.

Best be honest, how can issues be highlighted if they are not raised. There will be no consequences as it is confidential BUT if you are having significant issues with your HT and SLT then you should be raising this with the CoG.

Original poster
Geordiebabe85 · 06/01/2025 16:40

good96 · 06/01/2025 16:36

Best be honest, how can issues be highlighted if they are not raised. There will be no consequences as it is confidential BUT if you are having significant issues with your HT and SLT then you should be raising this with the CoG.

Show quote history

Unfortunately the CoG is part of the problem!

OP posts:
Foostit · 07/01/2025 23:14

I was very honest and I’m assuming that other staff were too as the school ended up in special measures and staff well-being was listed as a concern as well. Two of the main weaknesses were behaviour and leadership. I already had a job lined up by that point and knew I was leaving but I think I still would have been honest. It really was a shit show of a school though! I doubt it has improved since.

Original poster
Geordiebabe85 · 08/01/2025 05:59

Foostit · 07/01/2025 23:14

I was very honest and I’m assuming that other staff were too as the school ended up in special measures and staff well-being was listed as a concern as well. Two of the main weaknesses were behaviour and leadership. I already had a job lined up by that point and knew I was leaving but I think I still would have been honest. It really was a shit show of a school though! I doubt it has improved since.

Are you still in touch with others there? Do you know if they regretted it? Did slt leave?

OP posts:
Foostit · 08/01/2025 07:34

@Geordiebabe85
I didn’t stay long and had made the decision to leave within a few weeks of starting so not in touch with anyone. It was only last year so not sure what it’s like there now. There was a bit of a mass exodus in the summer but as far as I’m aware the head and SMT stayed. Clearly oblivious that they were the issue! 😳

PensionPuzzle · 08/01/2025 19:58

I've seen reports where they mention staff wellbeing and morale being a concern, and stating that staff do not always agree with leadership decisions. But I know for definite in both of those it would have been a large majority of staff raising concerns in their survey.

I don't think you have anything to lose by being honest, and I'd rather work in an RI school that was getting better, than a false good.

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