Ofsted Reports

Spendless

My DD's school was Ofsted inspected in early Dec. We have only just got the report this week. It's not available on-line yet. The school has gone into Special Measures, which hasn't overly surprised me.

We have received a letter from the school saying that they at the school were aware of the Ofsted findings before Christmas, but were legally bound not to tell us, the parents until now.

Is this correct? If so, what's the reason behind it?

ellesbellesxxx

It is absolutely correct...the grading remains confidential until the report is published.
As to why, I am not entirely sure...however, I know someone who was told one thing when they were inspected then got a shock when they got the report as it was completely different. They ended up being re inspected as they appealed...and got the higher grade they had been verbally told they were going to get - and deserved! So I guess it allows time to appeal if there are any discrepancies or to provide more evidence if need be before the report is published.
If your child's school is in special measures, they will be pouring in support from the local authority - I recently did some PPA cover in a school in such a position and they went from inadequate to good in 5 months! One thing to look out for is the staff turnover which can be sometimes quite high in this time... but you never know, they might be all keen to stay on board and keep moving in the right direction.

Mrs_Soup

It does normally take a few weeks for the parents to be informed whatever the outcome as the school usually get told on the last day of the visit but then a report is written and the school gets to comment etc before it then gets finalised. Yours has had the Christmas break in between as well which may have delayed it further. But there is always a few weeks gap before you are offically told whatever the judgement.

Spendless

Thanks for the responses. I was being cynical but I suspected that the HT on being told the outcome had disagreed and had delayed the report by putting it in dispute.

I'm aware that money and support will come into the school now and I'm not overly concerned about any issues as DD has only a few months left at the school as she's in in yr 6, and I'm happy with her class teacher and 90% of what she's being taught. The 10% I'm not happy with I intend raising at next weeks parents evening.

FBaby

When I moved to our new town the only school that had spaces available had just been put on remedial measures which really concerned me. As it turned out it was a blessing. They got a new head in from the local high school that had gone previously from being on remedial measures to gaining an outstanding ofsted report. The school has totally turned around and I couldn't be happier. Their SATS results last year were very good and they are on a mission to get the highest in the town this year.

MrsDrink

Spendless wrote: »

Thanks for the responses. I was being cynical but I suspected that the HT on being told the outcome had disagreed and had delayed the report by putting it in dispute

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/filedownloading/?file=documents/inspection--forms-and-guides/t/The%20framework%20for%20school%20inspection.pdf&refer=0

See page 25.
Ofsted had around 28 days to write the report. School had 5 days to check it.

mrcow

If it's any consolation, my school had the same thing.

We had an outstanding Ofsted and were told straight away, and were then unable to tell anyone (including pupils) until it was published. Because the report was so good, it had to be signed off at higher levels, and the waiting felt like an age.

maman

Spendless wrote: »

Thanks for the responses. I was being cynical but I suspected that the HT on being told the outcome had disagreed and had delayed the report by putting it in dispute.

I'm aware that money and support will come into the school now and I'm not overly concerned about any issues as DD has only a few months left at the school as she's in in yr 6, and I'm happy with her class teacher and 90% of what she's being taught. The 10% I'm not happy with I intend raising at next weeks parents evening.

If I'm reading your comment right you suspected that the head had deliberately delayed it. What would be wrong with making an appeal if the Head genuinely believed Ofsted had got it wrong? The fall out from a snapshot judgement of a couple of days when the Head is there day in day out is massive. I don't blame them making sure there are no errors or raising it if they disagree with the judgements.

balletshoes

if the Head disagreed with the report, then I understand why the school didn't tell anyone until it had been challenged and the report had been published.

Our school (along with several others in the area) went into Special Measures following the last OFSTED inspections here (ours was in late November, the actual published report came out at the end of last month). However, our Head did let pupils and parents know, as soon as he knew (nothing in writing though, until the OFSTED report had been published). To be honest, I don't think he had much choice - it was all over the local news after OFSTED had done their inspection visits.

Spendless

maman wrote: »

If I'm reading your comment right you suspected that the head had deliberately delayed it. What would be wrong with making an appeal if the Head genuinely believed Ofsted had got it wrong? The fall out from a snapshot judgement of a couple of days when the Head is there day in day out is massive. I don't blame them making sure there are no errors or raising it if they disagree with the judgements.

I've had 7 years consecutive experience of the school and I know that ofsted's judgement and what the HT would believe would be poles apart. Like I said, I wasn't surprised at their verdict.

emz118

We were judged by OFSTED as outstanding at their last visit in 2010 and weren't allowed to tell anyone until the report came out. It's nothing to do with the headteacher, it's official OFSTED rules as another poster has stated above.