Forget Ofsted, I chose my son’s school by spying through the gates

I wanted to find a nice quiet school with good values and manners (Picture: Annette Kellow)

As I looked through the railing of a local school boasting an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating, I saw staff letting all the children out to play together at lunch time.

They ran around whooping and screaming, then suddenly the older boys started hurling basketballs at the four-year-olds.

Instead of putting a decisive stop to it, the teachers on duty merely chatted among themselves. I felt horrified that children so young were being subjected to obvious aggression without anyone seemingly caring for their wellbeing.

Even though the school had rave reviews online, I decided right then and there that my son would not be going there. I firmly crossed it off my list. 

This is just one of the schools I judged with my own eyes – rather than bothering with Ofsted ratings – when deciding where to send my child to school.

With news this week that Ofsted have abolished ratings and will now use basic reports as an ongoing method, many parents are bereft that they won’t have access to find an outstanding school for their child.

So I say – why not approach it my way?

I first started looking into schools for my son, Felix, when he was three years old in 2022.

While other parents I knew were checking Locrating – the national data based school finder – or frantically posting on local Facebook groups, I decided to take a more holistic approach; standing outside school gates and covertly observing what the other parents and teachers were up to.

And I’m thankful I did because, at some supposedly ‘outstanding’ Ofsted-rated schools, I saw things that shocked me.

I think abolishing Ofsted ratings is a positive thing (Picture: Annette Kellow)

At the first local school, I watched as a teacher left the building and some older children tried to grab his attention by waving and calling to him. His response?

He deliberately avoided eye contact and ducked past without so much as a glance, all while checking his phone. That was an instant no.

At another school, the children poured out at the end of the day and I witnessed a mum swearing at her six-year-old because they had wrecked their shoes. Though she was laughing, the language was pretty explicit.

Yet no one around her batted an eyelid, neither the child or the teacher who was close by.

At the next one, a mum was smoking and arguing with her partner. As her child arrived, she popped her finished coffee cup on the school wall and walked off.

The worst bit? There was a bin outside.

I know these sound like silly small things but living in central London I wanted to find a nice quiet school with good values and manners.

I must admit I was also scared for Felix, who suffers from Glanzmanns – a severe bleeding disorder – where even a minor bump or bang can result in days in hospital. Finding the right setting was really important and my quest to find a gentle place was paramount. 

Luckily, after several false starts, I visited the school closest to my house. It should have been obvious as it was so close.

It has been there for 100 years and hosts classes with small numbers. But I had tried all the so-called big players first that flaunted great results and modern buildings.

It was a lovely sunny day in June while I observed the outside and the pupils seemed calm and happy while leaving at the end of the day.

Felix has settled into school life well (Picture: Annette Kellow)

There were lots of smiley staff interacting with the children and parents all stood around chatting and relaxed – not avoiding each other like the plague.

I later found out there was a focus on bringing the community together, summer fetes and coffee mornings. This is a rarity in central London, but all the things I had enjoyed as a child.

They don’t boast an ‘outstanding’ in Ofsted – far from it, in fact. But that didn’t matter.

The school appeared well organised with good values and had a quirky charming feel. I knew the moment I stood outside it was ‘the one’.

Luckily we were in the catchment area to get in. And the best part? It’s so close to my house that I can leave five minutes before the bell goes, often hearing it ring as I run down the hill!

Outdated Ofsted ratings cannot portray what some schools have (Picture: Annette Kellow)

Felix has settled into school life well with lots of friends of different age groups. I love how the teachers smile and chat and we have a nice community around us. 

They have also helped greatly with his Glanzmanns condition – informing me of any issues and acting swiftly during school hours. It makes me even more sure that my inner voice is right, even if my school search seemed picky! 

As one that constantly goes with instincts, I think abolishing Ofsted ratings is a positive thing.

Any school can have a ‘good day’ while their Ofsted inspection takes place and be on their best behaviour – as well as a bad one. For parents who think they need an outstanding school, look at all aspects of the setting. Grades are important, but so are life skills, confidence and having a happy child. 

Outdated Ofsted ratings cannot portray what some schools have – which is a caring kind setting that looks after its children.

I also urge parents to ask about schools at local mums’ groups, online forums, and nurseries – just be as nosy as possible!

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

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