Kingsdale School Ofsted?

[Metallic]

westof, are you a teacher at Kingsdale?

[westof]

Nope, I'm a parent - (well I was a sceptical prospective parent when I started posting here in 2010 - so to give you the benefit of the doubt, I do remember how that feels)

[Metallic]

Benefit of the doubt!

[Curmudgeon]

Metallic Wrote:

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> Just imagine if you are one of the parents hoping

> for a school where this inspection type has

> happened since you applied for your child to go

> there. You get the good news that you have a

> place and the bad news the same week that it is

> going in to special measures. So hopefully the

> inspectors will have cleared up whatever has

> happened, and if not, by the time your child

> starts there, things will have been cleaned up.

Metallic that's a scandalous post - there is no 'special measures' announcement

[Metallic]

That is the problem when people are worrying about what is going on. Could be something, could be nothing. If it is nothing there is nothing to worry about. If there's something, then hearing your kid has a place at the same time as something negative, is quite a big worry for lots of Year 6 parents.

Scandalous is putting it a bit too high. Maybe 'inappropriate' is a bit nearer the mark because of course I am speculating.

[gypsyking]

Have a visit to Norwood School - my daughter is there and loves it. Very community based school. I also understand that it is the fifth most improved school in the country over the last 4 years.

[EDmummy]

I highly doubt that this is an indication that the school may be put into special measures!! We are particularly gutted we didn't get this school today and know several kids who already go there. They are all incredibly happy and achieving beyond their parent's expectations.

A good/outstanding school is only half of the equation. The other half is parental support. That is not influenced by OFSTED!

[Curmudgeon]

Metallic Wrote:

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> Scandalous is putting it a bit too high. Maybe

> 'inappropriate' is a bit nearer the mark because

> of course I am speculating.

"Scandalous - containing material damaging to reputation"

nope I think scandalous is the appropriate word here - Words matter, particularly in discussions such as this, please be careful

[intexasatthe moment]

Fuschia - the Ofsted site says that schools get the report ( not just the immediate feedback ) before Ofsted put it up on their site .

Would you know whether that applies to section 8 inspections as well ?

Apologies to all who were hoping to get a place at Kingsdale and have just had news to say they haven't - I appreciate my interest in this topic may seem irritating .

[Metallic]

So there is going to be another inspection within the usual period, because of stuff he found out. Very helpful.

[Curmudgeon]

I am extremely relieved to see that the outcome has finally been published, whilst I was on the phone to them actually

It is not worrying in the least although some may be concerned by the 'minority of staff' complaints. However working in a busy secondary school I can confirm that there are always staff members who don't like how things are run and all this means is that the next inspection date will be brought forward

So still an outstanding school - still engaged students

I'm happy with it. Hope all those who get a place are as well

Copied badly belwo but is on http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/136309

10 February 2012

Steven Morrison

Headteacher

Kingsdale Foundation School

Alleyn Park

Dulwich

London

SE21 8SQ

Dear Mr Morrison

Ofsted monitoring visit to Kingsdale Foundation School under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

Thank you for the help which you and your staff gave when I inspected your school on 8?9 February 2012 with John Kennedy HMI, David Edwards HMI and Patricia MacLachlan, additional inspector. Thank you also for the information which you provided during the inspection. Please pass on my thanks to the many staff and students who gave up their time to speak with us.

There have been a number of significant contextual changes in the two years since the school?s last inspection. In September 2010 the school opened a sixth form; in November 2010 it became a converter academy. The school was re-awarded the Inclusion Quality Mark in May 2011 and now has a second specialism in mathematics.

Inspectors spent most of their time in discussions with teachers and members of support staff; while some meetings were held with small groups of staff, the majority were held with individuals. Most meetings were with members of staff selected by inspectors to provide a random and representative sample, but many staff also asked to meet an inspector to share their views and experiences. In all, inspectors met with over 90 members of staff. They also held discussions with several groups of students, the Chair of the Governing Body and a number of parents and carers. Inspectors observed the school?s work and visited 17 lessons. A sample group of around 100 older students completed the inspection questionnaire; inspectors considered their responses alongside around 30 responses from parents and carers, and approximately 150 responses from members of staff.

The large majority of the teaching seen during the inspection was good; some was satisfactory and some was outstanding. As a result, in the lessons observed, students were making good progress in their learning. The views of most students,

Tribal

1?4 Portland Square

Bristol

BS2 8RR

T 0300 123 1231

Text Phone: 0161 6188524

[email protected]

www.ofsted.gov.uk

Direct T 0117 3115319

Direct F 0117 3150430

Direct email:[email protected]

January 2012

Page 2

parents and carers confirm this positive profile of teaching and learning. Teachers typically plan carefully to ensure that their lessons are interesting and meet the needs of students of different ability. They make good use of the time at the end of lessons to summarise and consolidate what students have learned. In the small proportion of less-effective lessons seen during the inspection, teachers did not interest or engage all students fully; as a result, they only made satisfactory progress in these lessons.

Students are polite, courteous and very friendly; their behaviour in lessons and around the site does them great credit. Staff and students who have been at the school for some time recognise and appreciate the significant improvement in students? behaviour. Students enjoy school and appreciate the good relationships they have with staff. Students feel safe and secure in school and say that incidents of bullying are rare and, when they occur, are dealt with quickly and effectively. The school?s arrangements for safeguarding are robust and meet statutory requirements. Staff are provided with clear, detailed and helpful guidance to support their work in this area. Students concentrate well and remain highly focused in lessons.

The school?s new sixth form has started well. Students who met with inspectors were generally very positive about their experiences, and Year 13 students point to the improvements that have been made over the past 18 months. Their main concern is the need for even more accommodation and space, a problem that leaders have recognised and are seeking to resolve.

The large majority of staff are very positive about the way in which the school is led and managed. Many praise the high quality of support that they receive from the school?s middle and senior leaders. Similarly, many of these staff praise the leadership of the headteacher and the role that he has played in the school?s improvement and development. Middle leaders value the support and guidance that they receive from their line managers in the senior leadership team. This large group of staff feel consulted, listened to and able to influence the school?s direction. They recognise and appreciate the many opportunities for training and professional development; a number of staff at the start of their careers praised the high quality of their induction. Most of the parents and carers who responded to the inspection questionnaire or spoke to inspectors share this very positive view of the school.

A relatively small but significant minority of staff have very different views. They expressed concerns about aspects of the school?s leadership and management; in many cases, these criticisms and concerns are serious and substantial. Some staff said that they found the prevailing style of leadership to be rigid, autocratic and overbearing, and that this adversely affected their morale and effectiveness. Many of these staff raised concerns about communication; many feel that they have few genuine opportunities to influence the direction of school developments. Some are concerned that the amount of bureaucracy and administration places unacceptable demands upon them. A number also feel that they are not adequately supported or helped to develop and improve as teachers. The views and anxieties expressed by

January 2012

Page 3

this group of staff have raised serious concerns and the timing of the school?s next inspection will be affected.

I hope that you have found the inspection helpful in promoting improvement in your school. This letter will be posted on the Ofsted website.

Yours sincerely

Christopher Russell

Her Majesty?s Inspector

[intexasatthe moment]

I see the report is now online .

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/136309

A few extracts below

The large majority of staff are very positive about the way in which the school is led and managed. Many praise the high quality of support that they receive from the school?s middle and senior leaders.

A relatively small but significant minority of staff have very different views. They expressed concerns about aspects of the school?s leadership and management; in many cases, these criticisms and concerns are serious and substantial. Some staff said that they found the prevailing style of leadership to be rigid, autocratic and overbearing, and that this adversely affected their morale and effectiveness.

The views and anxieties expressed by this group of staff have raised serious concerns and the timing of the school?s next inspection will be affected.

[Metallic]

I expect the Exam Boards reports will be out next.

"A relatively small but significant minority of staff have very different views. They expressed concerns about aspects of the school?s leadership and management; in many cases, these criticisms and concerns are serious and substantial. Some staff said that they found the prevailing style of leadership to be rigid, autocratic and overbearing, and that this adversely affected their morale and effectiveness. Many of these staff raised concerns about communication; many feel that they have few genuine opportunities to influence the direction of school developments. Some are concerned that the amount of bureaucracy and administration places unacceptable demands upon them. A number also feel that they are not adequately supported or helped to develop and improve as teachers. The views and anxieties expressed by this group of staff have raised serious concerns and the timing of the school?s next inspection will be affected."

So these concerns have been addressed by the Inspectors, and not dismissed. That is a worry because actually this is news isn't it? We on here obviously thought it was the exams business that was in the papers.

[intexasatthe moment]

I too have worked in schools and was amazed by the power that heads and SLT could wield to influence the daily life of teachers .

It takes a very brave and strong person to disagree with a headteacher and the SLT ,especially when so much of their energy goes into an extremley demanding job .

And just because a minority of staff are unhappy with the way a school is run doesn't mean that their concerns aren't valid .

I remember that a number of teachers left last summer ,presumably some of those would have left because they shared the misgivings of the minority referred to in the report . Presumably a minority that would therefore be larger .

[intexasatthe moment]

Metallic - no not news really .

I recall some posts on here regarding extreme pressure from senior staff to get good results ( which might be where the query regarding exams came in ) . Think the reference was not to the head but someone else .

But the posts were deleted - not by the posters .

And I believe that the investigation into the examination process is not made public . Though happy to hear from someone who knows that I'm wrong .

[Metallic]

The posts were deleted? Good grief.

[Curmudgeon]

Well I for one am happy with this report - it doesn't bring up anything that would stop me from sending my child there in September (and we were lucky enough to get a place)

Extreme pressure goes alongside secondary school teaching and govt. targets today unfortunately and hopefully the SLT will address the 'valid issues' before the next inspection and the minority of staff will begin to feel valued.

The key things are to me that the teaching is good; students make good progress with good concentration and high focus in lessons; students are polite, courteous and friendly with good behaviour and enjoy good relationships. Bullying is rare and dealt with quickly and effectively

[westof]

Well, I am very glad that they have published the report, and that it is mostly very positive - in time to reassure parents & children who are undergoing the very stressful secondary allocation period.

I will read more fully, & pay particular attention to the paragraph above which should in no way be dismissed.

HOWEVER - I would like to say that it is entirely to the school's credit (including any teachers who are unhappy with the school), that from a parents point of view, the school is still functioning exceptionally well, with children making progress & happy at school - to the extent that that paragraph was quite surprising. Whatever internal / external issues there are - and I certainly hope they are resolvable - at least they are not affecting the pupils or the quality of teaching and care they are receiving.

If the timing of the next inspection is brought forward - although I sympathise inspections may be disruptive to the school, I think it would on balance be a good thing - whether to provide reassurance following the scrutiny the school has been under, or indeed to root out genuine issues which I would rather were fixed than swept under the carpet.

Because this is a good school for children to attend, and I would want the school and the teachers to be supported.

And - I don't think it is particularly hard to believe that the 'exams business' ( whatever that turns out actually to have entailed) could be linked to the paragraph above with teachers under pressure.

[westof]

Metallic Wrote:

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> The posts were deleted? Good grief.

In some respects it was a shame those threads were deleted - I read them at the time - as 1) there was some genuinely interesting discussion, and 2) some of the posts were so utterly fruitloop that they would have left no-one reading them in doubt that there was an element (however minor) of maliciousness (poss. too strong a word, mischief at the very least) to the original cheating allegations.

[westof]

westof Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Metallic Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > The posts were deleted? Good grief.

>

> In some respects it was a shame those threads were

> deleted - I read them at the time - as 1) there

> was some genuinely interesting discussion, and 2)

> some of the posts were so utterly fruitloop that

> they would have left no-one reading them in doubt

> that there was an element (however minor) of

> maliciousness (poss. too strong a word, mischief

> at the very least) to the original cheating

> allegations.

...which doesn't mean I would want to see genuine issues dismissed - as this is a school (& teachers) well worth supporting.

[intexasatthe moment]

I think I can see why the posts were removed - it's tricky to have an on line debate about such sensitive issues as possible misspractice regarding exam procedures ,especially prior to an investigation .

Like curmudgeon I hope that issues will be addressed .

And possibly it's a healthy sign that staff ( especially a minority ) feel able to voice concerns ,albeit that they have ( presumably as a last resort ) had to go to an outside body .

I can think of 3 schools ( only one in Southwark and no I won't name it ,but it did involve cheating regarding exams ) where the regime was so oppresive ( staff " observed " and monitored to death ,timetable and class allocation manipulated as a form of harrasment )that grievances would never have got this far .

[Dorothy]

Have heard (rumour mill only) that there was an unusually high number of sibling places at Kingsdale this year - and of course that makes such a lot of sense in the whole scholarship/lottery set up (?)

[westof]

intexasatthe moment, I have friends who teach in secondary schools (for an academy chain but NOT in South London) who have mentioned similar - lack of support, sleepless nights, intense monitoring & pressure to improve results year on year to an impossible degree - that make me dread to think my child would taught by people facing that degree of stress and unhappiness. And these are people who genuinely enjoy their basic job of imparting knowledge to teenagers.

This kind of pressure is definitely a bigger problem than just one school - that said I have no way of knowing how Kingsdale compares to other schools in this respect.

[MGolden]

I agree with Westof and Curmudgeon - a largely positive report which reinforces what I already know about the school: largely positive staff and children who are doing well academically and are well behaved.

Any large organisation is going to have some staff who are unhappy and I would be more concerned about a report that said 'all is wonderful'.

[intexasatthe moment]

A largely positive report and my own personal view is that the head has been at this school - through good and bad times - for many years . And I respect him for his experience and staying power .

But this isn't just a large organisation with a few unhappy staff .

It's a school ( paid for by our taxes ) ,it's not ( or shouldn't be IMO ) a business . There are different implications to having a few unhappy staff on role ,not least those expressed by westof.

I'm amazed that teachers have the energy to have persued their concerns this far - in my book that's not because they're a little dissafected ,it's because they are very worried .

Seriously you don't teach in a secondary school unless you like the job and are very committed .

You don't raise complaints against the SLT unless you have an exceptionally good reason .

And I can think of no other instances where Ofsted have taken such concerns seriously . I'm sure there must be ,but my point is that this is exceptional .