When considering school choices researching all of your
options is crucial, especially if you are new to an area. Talking to other
parents is of course beneficial but is rarely without emotion generated by
personal experiences. One of the most useful tools for parents looking for an
independent opinion about the standards of teaching and learning in the schools
you are considering is to read the latest Ofsted inspection report.
Ofsted reports directly to Parliament and is both
independent and impartial. By law it must inspect schools with the aim of
providing information to parents, to promote improvement and to hold schools to
account. Reports can be read via the Ofsted websiteite www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports.
The inspection lasts between one and two days and schools
receive only one days’ notice prior to the inspection. Inspection teams are
keen to see the school as it is and not on show.
The focus of the inspection is the quality of teaching as
well as the pupil’s progress and attainment. Information is gathered by talking
to the headteacher, governors, staff, parents and pupils. Lessons are observed
across the curriculum. They also look at how well the school is led and managed
as well as the culture, ethos, behaviour and safety of pupils.
The reports therefore give a good all-round feel for a
school’s atmosphere and strengths, as well as highlighting any weaknesses. This
makes it far easier for parents to make objective comparisons between schools
in a given area.
To subscribe to our weekly Blog containing regular useful tips for parents to support their education choices, please click the link below
No comments:
Post a Comment