In November 2012 Wakefield was ranked 147th of 150 local education authorities by OFSTED in providing schools classed as good or outstanding in the primary school sector for the youngsters of this district.
Twelve months later the OFSTED inspectors called again and their report has just been released. "This inspection was carried out because of concerns about the achievement and progress of pupils in primary and secondary schools and the quality of education and training for young people aged 16 to 18 years.
In addition, the proportion of schools in Wakefield judged to be good or better at their last Ofsted inspection is well-below national averages and not improving rapidly enough."
"There is a strategy for improvement which focuses on providing appropriate levels of support to meet the needs of individual institutions. However, this has not led to an improvement in the proportion of schools which are good or better. Figures up to September 2013 show that 35%, or over 9,000 pupils,
attend a primary school that is less than good. The figure for secondary schools is around 7,200 students. Overall, the proportions of good and better schools are below the national and regional averages, despite some very recent improvement. Improvement over time has been at a slower pace than across the country."
(Source OFSTED report published 6th January 2014)
We also see that standards in reading writing and mathematics are too low in Key Stages 1 and 2 leaving youngsters to face remediation or catch up as they move on into secondary schools, setting the barrier higher for them and reducing their life chances.
OFSTED's key conclusion?
"The local authority arrangements for supporting school improvement are ineffective."
This Labour controlled Council has had its own very personal approach to education and school improvement over the forty years since it came into existence. Whilst many young people will have excelled during that time it looks as if a sizeable group will not have had the best opportunities that they could have.
The Cabinet's decision in 2006 to move away from a Director of Education from an education background and make a Director of Family Services from a social care background responsible for education, really did not help. According to many in the education sector this resulted in a loss of specialist focus, responsiveness and, in some cases, a different set of priorities. Whilst this decision was steadfastly defended by the Leader it is hard to see how it has helped educational performance and excellence.
It is only recently, and reluctantly, that the council has rowed back from that approach with the appointment of a Corporate Director for Children and Young People in August 2013. That was clearly a step in the right direction but we must now see the improvements across the Local Education Authority and within schools so that more young people can live up to their potential and our communities can thrive and prosper.
How will we know what progress has been made? Well for one thing OFSTED will be back in 9 months or so. Watch this space!
Geoff
To see the detailed conclusions visit the OFSTED web site here
Or to see the pdf file click here.
Twelve months later the OFSTED inspectors called again and their report has just been released. "This inspection was carried out because of concerns about the achievement and progress of pupils in primary and secondary schools and the quality of education and training for young people aged 16 to 18 years.
In addition, the proportion of schools in Wakefield judged to be good or better at their last Ofsted inspection is well-below national averages and not improving rapidly enough."
"There is a strategy for improvement which focuses on providing appropriate levels of support to meet the needs of individual institutions. However, this has not led to an improvement in the proportion of schools which are good or better. Figures up to September 2013 show that 35%, or over 9,000 pupils,
attend a primary school that is less than good. The figure for secondary schools is around 7,200 students. Overall, the proportions of good and better schools are below the national and regional averages, despite some very recent improvement. Improvement over time has been at a slower pace than across the country."
(Source OFSTED report published 6th January 2014)
We also see that standards in reading writing and mathematics are too low in Key Stages 1 and 2 leaving youngsters to face remediation or catch up as they move on into secondary schools, setting the barrier higher for them and reducing their life chances.
OFSTED's key conclusion?
"The local authority arrangements for supporting school improvement are ineffective."
This Labour controlled Council has had its own very personal approach to education and school improvement over the forty years since it came into existence. Whilst many young people will have excelled during that time it looks as if a sizeable group will not have had the best opportunities that they could have.
The Cabinet's decision in 2006 to move away from a Director of Education from an education background and make a Director of Family Services from a social care background responsible for education, really did not help. According to many in the education sector this resulted in a loss of specialist focus, responsiveness and, in some cases, a different set of priorities. Whilst this decision was steadfastly defended by the Leader it is hard to see how it has helped educational performance and excellence.
It is only recently, and reluctantly, that the council has rowed back from that approach with the appointment of a Corporate Director for Children and Young People in August 2013. That was clearly a step in the right direction but we must now see the improvements across the Local Education Authority and within schools so that more young people can live up to their potential and our communities can thrive and prosper.
How will we know what progress has been made? Well for one thing OFSTED will be back in 9 months or so. Watch this space!
Geoff
To see the detailed conclusions visit the OFSTED web site here
Or to see the pdf file click here.
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