All parents want the best for their children, and when it comes to schools that often starts with checking their standing with Ofsted.
However, in a quirk of the academization process undertaken by practically every school in the city, converting to an academy does not transfer any previous ratings with the education watchdog. A school that was rated Outstanding that becomes an academy will instead have ‘no rating’ until inspectors visit again.
But this also means, because of a backlog of schools to visit and the interruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, some academies have now been waiting up to and over four years for a grading.
As well as that, a number of Sheffield schools have only opened their gates recently, and they too are waiting for a visit.
Below are the 11 Sheffield schools that do not have a grading with the education watchdog, what their rating used to be before academization, as well as how long they have been waiting.
1. Mercia School
Mercia School, in Carter Knowle Road, opened its gates in September 2018 and is still waiting on its first Ofsted rating. Photo: Scott Merrylees
2. Discovery Academy
Discovery Academy school, in Norfolk Park, only opened last September. In fact, the picture above even shows it still under construction. It may be up to two years or more before they receive a visit by Ofsted. - https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/25/149087 Photo: Nexus
3. Malin Bridge Primary School
Malin Bridge Primary School, in Dykes Lane, was converted into an academy in January 2022. Prior to academisation, it was rated Outstanding in October 2017. - https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/107100 Photo: Google Maps
4. Oughtibridge Primary School
Oughtibridge Primary School was rated outstanding at its inspection in February 2013, over nine years ago. In the meantime, it converted into an academy in May 2019 and has been waiting on a new rating for nearly four years. - https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/145832 Photo: Google