School’s reaction to Ofsted report

Editor News editor I read only negative articles regarding Shernold School since their not-so-pleasing Ofsted report. I now wish to put forward my family’s view in the interest of balance.

My child was bullied at his previous school in a class that didn’t really gel from the get go (the school’s words).

Although I worked with the school it wasn’t working out for him and the last straw was when they said he was special needs and moved him to a table with the children who were bullying him. He came out of school crying most days and it made our hearts bleed.

My partner and I looked to move him to another local state school, but places were non-existent. We took him to Shernold and he came back smiling.

The school said he was an extremely bright boy. We signed up. He’s been there for more than two years.

After an initial adjustment he has blossomed. His school reports have gone in the right direction. He is becoming a happier, more fulfilled boy, even with all his quirks.

Shernold, which has high expectations on behaviour and attention to learning, has never forgotten they are children and the need to enjoy and celebrate this.

Obviously we were disappointed with the Ofsted report. But the school’s response was immediate.

It ran meetings and presented us with actions already taken and actions to be carried out, especially around the management structure.

Its assessment of teaching was never in question.

Paperwork and box ticking was behind 80-90% of the issues. Shernold has excelled in how it has responded. Mark Anderson, West Malling.