Ecclesfield School - Ofsted - Inadequate/Special Measures

The Ofsted report from Ecclesfield School's January inspection has finally been published.

It grades the school as 'Inadequate' and requires Special Measures in 2017, a drop from Good in 2013 - that explains why they've refused to tell parents about the inspection

The full report is at this link https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/140809

They may not have "refused", more like they're not able to give the details until its published by OFSTED.

I've known schools get an "outstanding" but they're also not been able to tell people until Ofsted release the information.

we received a letter from the school over the weekend, which included the Ofsted report in full as per the link above

Schools have no control over the publishing dates of Ofsted reports however it is normal for the report to take longer when a school has had an adverse inspection as there needs to be more preparation, feedback and response time.

At least 139 of the parents knew about the inspection as they replied to the Ofsted questionnaire which parents were invited to complete.

I came here to raise the same issue!

We got the report at the weekend too and it makes for grim reading. The teaching is inadequate, the leadership is inadequate - it's shocking. Science is appalling, English and Maths are inadequate. This is BASIC stuff for a school. they seem to spend an awful lot of time and effort on blummin musicals and extra curricular stuff without actually teaching kids the core subjects.

And I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the letter from the Head saying that they are "shocked". Should he really be telling us that he had no idea that his own school was so bad??

Does anyone have experience of schools given this sort of report? My child is in Yr 8 there so I'm obviously concerned. Going to a meeting tonight about it and I'm already worried that they aren't taking it seriously. I have no experience of this at all. I'd be in a blind panic if my child were in GCSE year - they must feel so let down.

---------- Post added 14-03-2017 at 11:40 ----------

For anyone who hasn't seen the "highlights":

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school

 Over the last three years, the school’s

effectiveness has declined considerably. Senior

leaders and governors have been complacent

and inaccurate in their assessment of school

performance and have not taken effective

action to tackle pupils’ underachievement and

weak teaching.

 Pupils’ achievement is inadequate. In 2016,

pupils’ performance in English, mathematics,

science and humanities was weak. The most

able pupils, those who have special educational

needs and/or disabilities, and disadvantaged

pupils significantly underperform.

 The school’s use of pupil premium funding is

ineffective in accelerating the progress of

disadvantaged pupils. Their achievement has

been consistently low over time.

 Leaders do not ensure that pupils’ literacy and

numeracy skills are developed well.

Consequently, pupils are not well prepared for

the next stage in their learning.

 The quality of provision in science for all pupils

is extremely poor and has resulted in

consistently low achievement in this key

subject.

 Teachers’ expectations of what pupils can

achieve are too low, particularly for pupils who

arrive at the school with high levels of

attainment. The planning of teaching to match

pupils’ needs is inconsistent.

 The behaviour of pupils requires improvement.

Some low-level disruptive behaviour, in lessons

where pupils are insufficiently challenged,

spoils the learning of others. Around the school

site a small minority of pupils are disrespectful

in their behaviour.

Doesn't inspire confidence, does it??

It isn't the end of the world.

They now have to come up with an acceptable improvement plan and will have regular DfE visits over the next two years by which time they should be of a standard to be inspected and lifted to 'requires improvement' and eventually back to 'good'.

Ofsted inspections are not all they're cracked up to be either. They can be very subjective. 2 inspectors in the same class can come to the opposite conclusions, - I've seen it happen.

That said, this is not a good report and needs tackling, and as cgKsheff says, plans are already underway.

It seems the school has gone downhill since it became an Academy, maybe that has something to do with it.

And before too many parents get on their high horse, they should ask themselves if they are also playing their part. If you want your kids to go to a good school and do well, parent participation is an essential part of the winning mix.

maybe if they weren't so concerned measuring the width of pupil's trousers before letting them into school, they might have more time to focus on more important issues

Ofsted inspections are not all they're cracked up to be either. They can be very subjective. 2 inspectors in the same class can come to the opposite conclusions, - I've seen it happen.

 

That said, this is not a good report and needs tackling, and as cgKsheff says, plans are already underway.

 

It seems the school has gone downhill since it became an Academy, maybe that has something to do with it.

And before too many parents get on their high horse, they should ask themselves if they are also playing their part. If you want your kids to go to a good school and do well, parent participation is an essential part of the winning mix.

I play my part - the least they could do is actually keep an eye on the basics! I hope the plans are effective and swift - kids only get one chance at their education, it's much harder to repeat things at a later date and try to catch up.

I play my part - the least they could do is actually keep an eye on the basics! I hope the plans are effective and swift - kids only get one chance at their education, it's much harder to repeat things at a later date and try to catch up.

I never said you didn't. But some parents don't and it shows.

Good old OFSTED, eh, and their high standards of literacy...

The report refers to pupils' "understanding of the Nazi's rise to power..."

Which Nazi was that? Adolf, Goebbels?

Ofsted? Disband the lot of the porcine failed teachers with their snouts in the trough of easy money.

Good old OFSTED, eh, and their high standards of literacy...

 

The report refers to pupils' "understanding of the Nazi's rise to power..."

 

Which Nazi was that? Adolf, Goebbels?

 

Ofsted? Disband the lot of the porcine failed teachers with their snouts in the trough of easy money.

Nazi's is correct. The word Nazi is an abbreviation for the National Socialist German Workers' Party.