OMG Ofsted

[BarleySugar]

For all you teachers out there, you know how I'm feeling. We had the call Thursday, and despite head keep saying, "we're doing better than last time" (3 yrs ago), and that was outstanding, it piles on the pressure even more. What if I'm the one that lets the team down? I've also been drawn the short straw too, because I've got to have a meeting with one of them about training and staff support as I'm free when they want to discuss it.
I've spents the weekend double checking marking, planning interesting lessons, and trying to forget the yr 11 marking that needs to be done before the end of the week. I'm burned out atm, and I've lost my id card OH is turning the house upside down, I did the same at school on Saturday. It wouldn't be so bad except for the meeting. Anyone good at faking it?
On the other hand, what really matters? 3 yr 11 boys, on their last day at school (Fri) turned up to put in the rabbit proof fencing for me at the school plot. They were never the best behaved, often excluded, I visited them more than once while they were in isolation to advise them on what to do for their ICT coursework, but they volunteered to help me out, to the amazement of a lot of colleagues. Lovable rogues springs to mind, and it's ones like them that make the job worthwhile. Many of the 'best behaved' didn't say thanks or even goodbye. In fact 2 who'd had a lot of help and guidance didn't even be bothered to print the work for me, yet these 3 printed it all off with no maons or groans. None are intending to come back to 6th form, but I hope they do well in whatever they do. None are planning on the unemployed route , apprenticeships or family businesses, with no quarter given and accepted quite willingly, seems to be the order of the day.
If I survive until Tuesday evening I will be celebrating at the POP (post Ofsted Party), and the COW (cakes on Weds) and hopefully remembering why I still do this job.

[janeyo]

You will be fine - deep breaths! I like the old phrase, those who can teach, those who can't join Ofsted...

Let us know how it goes.

We are expecting them any minute (under special measures and they have to do another full inspection this year - I only joined in September and only do 2 afternoons teaching French to 3/4 5/6) but even I am getting anxious!)

I am not in school next week, due to wedding etc so let's hope they come then!

[Jeanied]

As Janey says - you will be fine. However, if you are anything like me, a good old worry beforehand is useful in building up the adrenalin so you perform extra well on the day.
The staff training and support will be a breeze - after all it is the effective arm of performance management and a school that gets outstanding has that whole area off pat!
Fingers crossed for you and try not to let it dominate your life... nice stroll down the plot of an evening for an hour of gentle weeding should do the trick!

[Mikey]

This isn't directed at you Barleysugar but at the system. Why do Ofsted give schools a warning, it ensures that schools do loads of extra work that they don't do normally in order to try and impress Ofsted.

This is all completely wrong, there should be no warning they should turn up as and when they feel like it and observe any subject they feel like doing so. This is the only way they will get a true reflection of what happens in schools. Any school can be coached into receiving 1's and 2's across the board, but this is pointless if it does not reflect standard practise.

Its about time we found a different manner to evaluate schools, no experienced teacher prepares lesson plans for every lesson, its not necessary you have a thread that you follow, based on the curriculum. On top of this, judging teachers on the grades of their students is ridiculous, this only creates a system which is geared wrongly.

If teachers achieve poor grades in their subject, they see subject funding reduced or in some cases subjects removed. This promotes a system where teachers overly support students sometimes even doing the work for them. Grades shouldn't be artificially inflated in this manner, as all we achieve are students which leave school with higher grades than their knowledge base supports.

Why oh why can we not sort this out, a great teacher cannot make everyone achieve greatness. Some kids are just simply not up to it, lets accept that you have talented kids and thick ones, poor grades don't make the teacher poor.

There ends the lecture, sorry Barleysugar, I hope your inspection goes well.

[Sanjo]

I wish you well BarleySugar and hope everyone's efforts are suitably rewarded.

[di]

Good Luck with it,try to leave any stress behind at the school when you go home.xx

Mikey,I agree with some of your points....shock horror ...but don't think on the spot checks are feasible,I'm sure some of the 'perfect' schools use it as a time to make themselves look even more perfect but generally there's a lot of info/paperwork that needs to be prepared for the visits,the inspectors will also want to speak to many different people...teachers/govs/parents so a date needs to be set,partly to ensure the relevant people are available but also to cause less disruption.An honest school will use the prep time to make sure they can evident all that they've been doing since the last visit.
I do agree it's time they accepted that not every child is going to achieve the grades that are set for them,regardless of how good the teacher is and should stop judging a school so much on what grades a child left with.

[Mikey]

Well Di, shock horror I can understand some of your points too.

Ok so does it need three or so months notice for these things?, or in most cases would a week be sufficient? Most schools will have a mission statement, and will already be reviewing procedures as part of ongoing child and teacher development. They generally have computerised results which are readily available to see.

Some things I find remarkable the school in which a friend works got 1's for the administration staff, and senior staff, yet the school suffers with an inability to resolve disruptive behaviour of students. They also have 4 teachers suspended waiting resolution of allegations against them, at least 10% of teachers off on the sick on any given day. These are not the signs of a well managed school.

This is why I disagree with the current ofsted system, it doesn't allow for a true reflection of how a school works on a day to day basis. A full inspection will last a week, but I would rather see it happen on random days over the course of a term. I think this would be more revealing.

[jackyspratty]

Having met you at grapestock last year Barley sugar, Im sure that you will not in any way at all "let the team down". Good luck, and enjoy the party and cake!

[jackie j]

Hope it all goes well for you BS, the school daughter attends has now had a good report after three years with no head at the helm, a new one came in just over 12 months ago and boy what a difference he has made.
Teachers get my respect, pity they dont all respect their pupils or fellow satff. And a pity the pupils dont all respect their teachers.

[Glutton4...]

Good luck Ann. You're perfectly able to handle it - it'll probably be a breeze! Getting worried about it just shows that you care!

[Florence Fennel]

Wot she said ^^^ and good luck from me. From what I hear from my grandchildren they have a very interesting time in the classroom these days, you're doing a fantastic job.