With reference to the entry The Slippery Slope, we have been in receipt of several complaints. They all refer to the fact the school’s website does not link to the latest Ofsted report and the misleading quotes from the earlier report of 2007.
We would like to think that this an oversight on the part of the school, even though 9 months have elapsed since the investigation.
Some prospective parents felt strongly enough to address the issue with Ofsted and they have sent us the following response from Christine Gilbert, Head of Ofsted (HMCI).
Dear Mr and Mrs L........
Thank you for your email of 17 November 2010, received in my office on the same date.
I am sorry you have concerns about the school’s website link to its ‘latest’ Ofsted inspection report. You explain that the website for Duke Street Primary School does not provide a link to the most recent Ofsted report.
I have looked on the school’s website and I agree that typing in the keyword ‘Ofsted’ produces quotes from, and a link to, the Ofsted inspection report of July 2007, rather than the more recent inspection report of March 2010. This is disappointing as it is important that parents like yourselves have access to the most up to date information about the school. However, as you may be aware, the most recent inspection report for any school can be found on the Ofsted website at www.ofsted.gov.uk. I have asked that contact be made with the school to advise them that someone has complained about the website.
While I understand your concerns about the website, I should advise that Ofsted does not have the statutory power to instruct a school to modify its website or to enforce changes, notwithstanding that updating the school website would result in a more up-to-date picture of pupils’ achievement and the quality of provision. Should you wish to pursue your concerns further with regard to the school’s website, you would need to follow the school’s complaints procedure and put your concerns in writing. You should be able to obtain a copy of this procedure from the school. You may also wish to consider writing to the chair of governors for the school expressing your concern.
Thank you for writing to me on this matter. I hope this response is helpful and that you have been successful in your search for a suitable school for your daughter.
Yours sincerely
Christine Gilbert
12 comments:
I note that you have published the response to my letter from Ofsted. It was my wife who felt especially let down as she’d been a former pupil at the school and she’d good memories of her time there. So much so that we were in favour of our daughter attending. The financial crisis put paid to our move back to Chorley.
It’s really very difficult to know if a school will be good for your child or not. We’ve got lots of books on the subject. Ofsted reports are supposed to be a good indicator but it doesn’t look good if the school provides old reports from years ago rather than the latest.
One book provides some good advice and lists many checks that you can do. Visiting the school is top of the list. Looking and listening. A good school has lots of the children’s work all over the place and lots of noise. Teachers should be happy and enthusiastic about their role when you talk with them. It says that the head should know all the children’s names and be equally enthusiastic.
It does make one very good comment, in that a good school has lots of parental involvement. We were pleased to find that there was parents’ support forum but then we found that it’s not run or associated with the school which is a pity. We’ve also concluded that there isn’t a great deal of parental support and then we found this :
Extract from School Newsletter 18 Nov 2010
Parents Association
There was a very low turn out for the Parents Association meeting last night. We really need some new members in order to make it possible to organize a programme of fundraising and social events throughout the year. With the numbers presently volunteering their help we have had to scale down the events planned. (The after school Father Christmas event is a casualty of this.)
This does seem to be very sad thing for a school to have to admit but it must be more disappointing for the children.
From our experience, particularly my wife’s, the head needs to start doing his job better if he wants a successful school.
Rick & Angela
In response to Rick's comment. We established this parents' support forum with the expectation that we might be able to provide mutual parental support for our children and the school.
Even though the school did not support us in our intent, we too were disappointed by the distinct lack of parental contact.
We do not know why this as we know that many parents continue to 'whinge and moan' in the playground but never come forward.
So, although it's Mr. Kidd's responsibility to encourage parental support, maybe it's unfair to blame him. He can hardly drag parents into the school.
It does seem a shame that this has hit the childrens' Christmas function.
That's dreadful! What sort of message is this school giving to its children and its parents?
This is Christmas. Surely there's a way that the children can still have their function? I know of other schools where this role is provided by the governors, as parents at most schools do enough already.
It's no wonder that the school's not getting parent support by blaming them rather than encouraging them to participate.
It looks more like this is one of those schools where parents involvement is not wanted unless it is for fund raising. Otherwise the school prefers to keep parents out of the classroom and out of the school !
What rubbish! I don't know where you're from but schools up North don't have parents in school too. We've not got the time. Did your parents get involved with your school? Mine took me there and collected me. By the time that I was 8 the only contact was the occasional parents' evening. I don't think that there's anything wrong with this school and I don't remember much happening at Xmas.
The above comment was considered to be unsuitable due to the offensive tone of the expressed response.
Everyone is entitled to their views and opinions and if the previous contributor would like to have their say then please resubmit your quite valid observation.
I'm a lawyer and it's illegal here in the USA to advertise a school using material in this way as it is legal misrepresentation.
I quote "A misrepresentation need not be intentionally false to create liability. A statement made with conscious ignorance or a reckless disregard for the truth can create liability. Nondisclosure of material or important facts by a fiduciary or an expert, such as a doctor, lawyer, or accountant, can result in liability. If the speaker is engaged in the business of selling products, any statement, no matter how innocent, may create liability if the statement concerns the character or quality of a product and the statement is not true. In such a case, the statement must be one of fact. This does not include so-called puffing, or the glowing opinions of a seller in the course of a sales pitch (such statements as "you'll love this car," or "it's a great deal")."
I can see no difference in the legal status of head master or that of doctor, lawyer, or accountant in the above quote.
Vern Carlson, Rhode Island
This is what its like a lot of the time when you want to know something. You ask but it sometimes feels like that youve not been told everything and sometimes you know that what you've been told is not right. The only people that always know whats going on are the dinner ladies, so I ask them.
whatever question you ask you always get the sense that everyone is on the defense even when your not even being critical. its as if the staff are frightened to comment. if you manage to get hold of the head then i come away feeling as though ive been told off for asking. maybe its because i was frightened at school myself. it does seem to me that there needs to be more honesty and your right about the school using old and out of date reports.
Ofsted Report 2010 - My Children’s School
Main findings
This is an outstanding school. Everything about it keeps getting better and better and the pupils benefit from a stunning range of high quality experiences. The headteacher is an inspiring leader who motivates all around him to excel at what they do. He provides the opportunities and means for them to do it. Pupils are very proud of their achievements and their school. They become exceptionally responsible by the time they leave. Their behaviour is exemplary. The entire staff team provides outstanding care, guidance and support for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. These outstanding features are appreciated almost unanimously by the large group of parents and carers who responded to the inspectors' questionnaire. One hundred per cent agreed that their children enjoy school. Comments such as 'My child receives an excellent level of care' and 'My son has come on leaps and bounds at this school' are typical of those received.
Pupils make excellent progress from low starting points. Attainment has been rising year on year, and pupils are now attaining above average levels by the end of Year 6, especially in reading, mathematics and science. Teaching is excellent and the range of experiences and opportunities provided by teachers is quite superb. It inspires the pupils to perform as well as they possibly can.
How effective are leadership and management?
The headteacher leads by example and sets a brisk pace and high expectations for all in connection with the school. His clarity of vision, absolute commitment to provide the very best for the pupils and innovative ways to obtain resources combine to provide a clear brief for colleagues and ensure success for the pupils. One hundred per cent of the pupils replying to the questionnaire agree that the headteacher and senior staff are doing a good job. One pupil, unprompted, said, 'He is the best headteacher in the world.' The whole school exudes pride, joy and a strong sense of self-belief. The senior leadership team comprises of exemplary teachers who work very effectively, both collectively and individually. There is an exceptionally strong level of commitment from the entire staff team, all of those replying to the inspectors' questionnaire reporting that they feel proud to be a member of the school, that their contribution is valued and they feel fully involved. The school has excellent systems for tracking pupils' progress and monitoring its own performance. It is very tough on itself and there is a tangible determination to continuously improve, but within a creative and enlightening manner. These characteristics reflect the school's outstanding capacity to sustain all the established improvements and build further on them.
Like Rick & Angela, through similar circumstances, we are grateful that our children did not attend Duke Street – our children are now enjoying education at one of the UK’s top primary schools – unlike Duke Street, the above Ofsted Report extract is real !
Michael & Ruth
According to the school's news entry on their web site, the deadline for applying for reception places is Friday 14th January 2011.
It seems that many of those prospective parents will have been misled by this school's action in suppressing their Ofsted March 2010 Report.
As other schools have similar deadlines, it means that, by the time parents realise that the performance of this school is significantly worse than is being claimed, it will be impossible for them to change their choice of school in favour of another 'better' school.
What action is possible to prevent this situation and what options are open to parents who may wish to reconsider their choice of school under these circumstances?
It does seem ethically wrong that schools are able to project false performance information!
We wrote to the school on this subject a few months ago and received no response.
Later, a couple, Rick and Angela, wrote to Ofsted to express their concerns (see above) and that Ofsted have written to the school on this matter.
It seems that the school has ignored all requests and that it continues to claim performance conclusions that are out of date.
We consider this to be outrageous and share concerns that have been expressed by everyone. We have written to Ofsted on this issue and for answers to your points that have been raised.
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