In the Evening Standard tonight, Sellincourt ranked higher Penwortham, Furzedown and Hillbrook in the SATs tests.

Hey Sunshine,

Don't get me started on Ofsted's focus...! We were physically inspected for one day. Everything else is judged on results and on how well we fill out forms (well - that may well be oversimplifying things but it's how it appeared to me!).

I am sure that anyone who is considering Sellincourt as a school for their child would be pleased if they chose it. Just ask the parents outside the school gate, or come along to one of our PTA events. The Christmas Fayre is on Friday 4th December at around 3.45pm. It's always a well attended event to be prepared for crowds! However, Father Christmas will be fitting us into his busy schedule so might be worthwhile.

Standards are below average overall and achievement is satisfactory

It's a shame this comes before some of the other stuff said. This seems to be the focus point of the ofsted.

Its not what is on the outside - it is what is inside that counts

The teacher opens the door - yet it is only the student who can enter

Its not all about how many exams we can pass - its making the child a good person when they leave school

Just went back over our Ofsted and thought I would post this opening statement (for anyone who is interested):

This friendly and caring school provides a satisfactory education for its pupils and has several good features. It is a happy and harmonious place where pupils make good progress in developing their personal and social skills. Pupils show their enjoyment of school by attending regularly and behaving well. By the time they leave the school, pupils have become well-rounded individuals because of their good spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. There is a strong commitment towards making every child feel valued and fully included in every aspect of school life. These aspects are praised by parents, one of whom commented, 'Our children enjoy being taught in a stimulating, safe, inclusive environment'. The environment for pupils is good. Classrooms are bright and attractive and the well maintained accommodation and playground provide pupils with good opportunities to learn and play. Children in the Foundation Stage benefit from a beautiful garden where they grow flowers, fruit and vegetables, for example.

Standards are below average overall and achievement is satisfactory. Children join the Nursery with variable but generally typical skills of three-year-olds and make a satisfactory start to their education. Standards by Year 2 are broadly average and are improving. Standards by Year 6 have declined in the last three years and were well below average in the national test results in 2006. The school is working hard to tackle this problem and the evidence indicates that it is succeeding in arresting the decline. Standards have risen, although they remain below average, and current pupils in Years 3 to 6 are making satisfactory progress relative to their starting points. The school is aware, however, that more remains to be done to raise standards further, particularly by making more rigorous use of assessment information to ensure that all groups of pupils achieve as well as they can.

Teaching and learning are satisfactory overall, with good features. The school is rightly keen to improve the overall quality to good and better in order to raise standards further. Recent improvements to teaching have accelerated progress in lessons but have not had time to make an impact on national test results.

The headteacher has a clear focus on raising standards and ensuring that pupils do as well as they can. She is well supported by the deputy headteacher, senior leaders and other staff and governors. A strength of the school is the good quality of teamwork and commitment which ensures that everyone plays an integral part in moving the school forward. There is a real sense of determination to do better. In response to disappointing Year 6 results over the last three years, the school has put into place a series of intervention programmes and initiatives designed to raise standards. It now needs to draw breath and evaluate the impact of its work on pupils' achievement.

I live in the catchment for Sellincourt. All three of my children are or have been to Sellincourt and I'm really happy with it. So much so that I have run the PTA for 7 years and been a Governor for 8 years. Our last Ofsted was "satisfactory" which really isn't "very bad" .

I agree with Rich. Visit the school and see what you think for yourself - you can get so much more of a feel for a school than you can by Ofsted reports and league tables.

I'd be happy to answer any specific questions about the school and area if you would like to send me a message

Miranda

Your right about having to live right next door to get in to these schools - you will have problems if when you need a secondary school, you choose Graveney as you need to be right on their doorstep to get in

thank you for your replies and your advice. The place I was looking at seems to fall within the Sellincourt priority area rather than Furzedown or Penwortham - I'm guessing that they're such popular schools you don't have a hope unless you live right by the school?

The headmistress took two maternity leaves in quite quick succession which may be why the ofsted of 2007 was that strong.

It apparently is OK. The one with a v good reputation is Penwortham on Furzedown.

Hi!

I would stongly suggest contacting the local schools and asking to visit them (during the school day!).

Have a look at the displays on the walls, the teaching and learning in the classes you see, the way the children move around the school etc. Would you (or your child) be happy in this environment?

Decide what is important to you (and your child) - is it results, or is it a wide variety of after school clubs? Is it a strong reputation for drama, music, sport?

I think the "feel" of a school comes across very quickly and you'll know when you've found the right one.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Rich