Education

Four ‘outstanding’ schools in Bracknell Forest could be downgraded as part of tough inspection rules introduced by Ofsted
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Outstanding Schools could be downgraded

By Laura Herbert
March 05, 2012

Four ‘outstanding’ schools in Bracknell Forest could be downgraded as part of tough inspection rules introduced by Ofsted.

The measures, due to be introduced this autumn, would mean any school that does not achieve ‘outstanding’ for quality of teaching would not be rated ‘outstanding’ overall.

Six schools in the borough have been rated ‘outstanding’ overall by the education watchdog, but Edgbarrow School in Grant Road, Crowthorne, Ascot Heath Infants School in Rhododendron Walk, Ascot, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Gipsy Lane, Bracknell, and St Michael’s School in Lower Church Road in Sandhurst, all face being downgraded.

Uplands Primary School in Albion Road, Sandhurst, and Whitegrove Primary School in Westmorland Drive, Warfield, are not at risk of being downgraded as both schools received an ‘outstanding’ rating for quality of teaching.

Ofsted rates schools as ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’ or ‘inadequate’ in achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management.

Councillor Alan Kendall, executive member for education, feels there is disparity between the overall rating and sub-category grades within a report, and a focus on one area can influence the overall rating.

He said: “Part of the problem, which I have always said, is the way the reports are constructed. For example, a school could be satisfactory but looking through the various grades there could be grades three and two, and something ‘outstanding’ but they could never get a ‘good’ qualification.

“I think it needs evening out. Sometimes a good thing gets overlooked.

“The new framework has a reduction in the number of judgements and inspectors are spending are greater amount of time observing teaching and the quality of teaching and leadership.”

He added: “I think really it is more a change in focus and emphasis. In principle I think it is a good thing for people to have a challenge and reassess things. It is not about being complacent as I have never met anyone who has been complacent about anything in our schools, but there are occasions when I think there have been some judgements that have been a bit hard because the focus has been on something and this has affected the overall judgement.

“I hope the schools are regarded as having improved and having good teaching and learning as we support the school as much as we can.”

There are 31 primary schools in Bracknell Forest, five secondary schools, two special schools and one academy.

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Most recent user comments 8 of 8

League tables need to be seen in context of the whole school, as you are right without them they are useless in determining which schools are Outstanding. Despite the problems I agree with Ofsted that schools who do not show Outstandiing teaching should not be given Outtanding Ofsted's.

My children have been to a "Good" school which frankly was awful and did nothing to push my children academically, and to a "Satisfactory" school where my children have flown with good teaching.

The Secondary I have chosen for my children has recently been given a Satisfactory rating by Ofsted but when you look at the figure for Progress made by children the results are very similar to one of the schools mentioned in the article which has a "Outstanding" rating....go figure?

I cant see how a school can be rating Outstanding when the teaching is not.

sartay
06/03/2012 at 08:16

I think that many people would be surprised if they looked at the progress figures of these "outstanding" schools..the results are very average even if the atainment is good

sartay - in return you too have highlighted the problem of league tables and schools chasing Ofsted results - when you look at the figures in detail there is very often little in it. Very little that informs a parent of a school's true value.

Spot on janee, too....

Winstanley, Bracknell
05/03/2012 at 18:19

This latest just underlines the fact that Ofsted is the politicians' poodle. Tony Blair brought in the new, tough Ofsted to demonstrate that enormous numbers of schools were failing. Then he brought in "light touch" inspections to "show" that schools had improved under his watch. Michael Gove wants to force schools to become academies, so he has now brought in new rules to fail schools and justify his actions.

Just one question, Mr Gove, what are you going to do with those academies which have already failed Ofsted under the previous inspection regime? Have you given special instructions to Ofsted to delay inspecting academies? We know that you are going to delay inspecting 'free' schools - presumably to cover up evidence of failure.

League tables and Ofsted reports, because they are so politically manipulated, do not improve either educational outcomes or information to parents.

janee, London
05/03/2012 at 16:53

Yes you've hit the nail on the head..it is a numbers game. I would prefer to see the league tables show Progress of pupils as the main indicator rather than attainment. Dont get me wrong attainment is extremely important but I think that many people would be surprised if they looked at the progress figures of these "outstanding" schools..the results are very average even if the atainment is good...if a school is coasting then they should not be seen to be Outstanding.

sartay
05/03/2012 at 16:17

I take your point - but I think all schools in some respect take advantage of those pupils who do better as it these pupils who elevate the schools results. I believe this to be the case whether it's a school serving a middle class neighbourhood or a sink estate. It's a numbers game that fails to serve the one section of society that matters - the pupils.

Winstanley, Bracknell
05/03/2012 at 11:18

Winstanley, I'm working class-degree educated too..I went to Magna Carta which was quite rough 20 plus years ago. But schools where parental aspirations are high tend to do better that is a fact.

sartay
05/03/2012 at 10:46

Being middle class doesn't equal higher educational achievement - I'm degree educated and from a typically working class background. My wife all but failed at school and college and she went to the Marist!

Winstanley, Bracknell
05/03/2012 at 10:23

About time, the schools mentioned above all have middle class catchments and basically are helped by having middle class children=good results out. Without Outstanding teaching how can parents be assured that it is the school which is providing a good education, rather than motivated middle class parents.