Number attending good or outstanding schools increases

ofsted

Ofsted has today launched its Annual Report for 2013/14 for schools and further education and skills.

In their North West regional report, Ofsted says that the quality of educational provision for too many children and young people in the North West remains a postcode lottery. Educational outcomes for children and learners are improving but there is considerable variation within the region and across the sectors.

In Cheshire East 92% of primary pupils attend either a good or outstanding school, which is up 2% from last year and ranks Cheshire East third in the North West and equal 12th in relation to all 150 local authorities in England.

Whilst 78% of secondary pupils attend either a good or outstanding school, which is up 1% from last year and ranks Cheshire East as equal 6th in the North West and 65th nationally.

The North West report also states that outcomes for the most disadvantaged children are too low at most key stages and this remains an important area for improvement. The gap in attainment between pupils eligible for free school meals and their peers remains a major concern, with Stockport and Cheshire East showing the widest gap in achievement at Key Stage 4 in the North West.

In Cheshire East 26.4% of students eligible for free school meals achieve at least five GCSEs A* to C (including English and mathematics) compared with 65.8% of students who are not eligible for free school meals.

Jo Morgan, Ofsted Regional Director for the North West, said "It is a credit to teachers and school leaders that the educational outcomes for children and learners in the North West are improving. Eighty-six per cent of children are now going to a primary school that is good or outstanding.

"However, the quality of provision for too many children remains a postcode lottery. There is simply too much variation across the region and the quality of education in secondary schools continues to lag behind primary. In Trafford 91 per cent of schools are good or outstanding but in Oldham it is only 75 per cent.

"These shortcomings are hitting the region's poorest and most disadvantaged children the hardest. White British young people from poor families are particularly getting a raw deal.

"Currently, too much leadership is at best unfocused and at worst completely absent. Too few outstanding leaders and teachers are working in the areas which need them the most.

"I am committed to improving the quality of learning and outcomes in the region. Ofsted will continue to challenge and support underperforming schools and providers so that they can build on the improvement we have already seen and ensure all young people have access to the standard of education that they deserve."

The national report finds that 82% of primary schools are now good or outstanding (up from 78% a year ago) while the overall proportion of good or outstanding secondary schools remains unchanged from last year at 71%.

Click here to download the North West regional report.

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