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| More schools judged 'inadequate' | More schools judged 'inadequate' |
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| A growing number of schools in England have been judged "inadequate" by school inspectors, a report says. | A growing number of schools in England have been judged "inadequate" by school inspectors, a report says. |
| In its annual report, inspectorate Ofsted says just over one in eight secondary schools was unsatisfactory. | In its annual report, inspectorate Ofsted says just over one in eight secondary schools was unsatisfactory. |
| It has admitted that it has raised the bar during the last year on the performance expected from schools. | It has admitted that it has raised the bar during the last year on the performance expected from schools. |
| The report also shows standards are good or outstanding in nearly 60% of schools - highlighting a gulf between the best and the worst. | The report also shows standards are good or outstanding in nearly 60% of schools - highlighting a gulf between the best and the worst. |
| Among primary schools, 7% were judged to be inadequate, but only 2% of special schools and none of the nursery schools that were inspected. | Among primary schools, 7% were judged to be inadequate, but only 2% of special schools and none of the nursery schools that were inspected. |
| Chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: "I'm concerned about the gap between the best and worst provision. | Chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: "I'm concerned about the gap between the best and worst provision. |
| READ THE FULL REPORT Chief inspector's report [800KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here "Too many schools are inadequate - about one in 12 of those inspected, and in secondary schools this proportion rises to just over one in eight. | READ THE FULL REPORT Chief inspector's report [800KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here "Too many schools are inadequate - about one in 12 of those inspected, and in secondary schools this proportion rises to just over one in eight. |
| "We want all of our schools to make a positive contribution to the life chances of children and young people." | "We want all of our schools to make a positive contribution to the life chances of children and young people." |
| She said parents had a greater role to play and should put pressure on weaker schools, such as asking why no homework had been set. | She said parents had a greater role to play and should put pressure on weaker schools, such as asking why no homework had been set. |
| "Parents can be a major force in change," she said. | "Parents can be a major force in change," she said. |
| The new Education and Inspections Act allows parents who are unhappy with a school to complain directly to the chief inspector, if all local avenues have been exhausted. | The new Education and Inspections Act allows parents who are unhappy with a school to complain directly to the chief inspector, if all local avenues have been exhausted. |
| Ms Gilbert also said that children in public care were inadequately supported in almost half of local authorities. | Ms Gilbert also said that children in public care were inadequately supported in almost half of local authorities. |
| One in 10 was absent from school for at least 25 days last year. | One in 10 was absent from school for at least 25 days last year. |
| "It's hardly surprising that the attainment of these children is low and that when they leave school, they are much less likely than other school leavers to remain in full-time education or get a job." | "It's hardly surprising that the attainment of these children is low and that when they leave school, they are much less likely than other school leavers to remain in full-time education or get a job." |
| Special measures | Special measures |
| About 200 (1%) of schools fall into the most serious category where they are put into special measures and where school leadership is deemed incapable of achieving change. | About 200 (1%) of schools fall into the most serious category where they are put into special measures and where school leadership is deemed incapable of achieving change. |
| Another 300 (1.5%) have been served with a notice to improve, meaning they require significant improvement. | Another 300 (1.5%) have been served with a notice to improve, meaning they require significant improvement. |
| href="/1/hi/education/6173204.stm" class="">The most outstanding schools A total of 23 schools on special measures were closed over the past year, including 13 primary schools and three secondary schools. | |
| The report findings are based on thousands of individual inspection visits. | The report findings are based on thousands of individual inspection visits. |
| Schools Minister Jim Knight said the significant further improvement in both education and childcare in England were testimony to the hard work of pupils, teachers, and carers. | Schools Minister Jim Knight said the significant further improvement in both education and childcare in England were testimony to the hard work of pupils, teachers, and carers. |
| He added: "Every young person should get the highest quality education and we are clear that every school should be a good school." | He added: "Every young person should get the highest quality education and we are clear that every school should be a good school." |
| Significant progress had been made on reducing failing schools since 1998. | Significant progress had been made on reducing failing schools since 1998. |
| He cautioned that direct comparisons between school judgements in this year's report and previous ones would be misleading, as the inspection regime now was the toughest it had ever been. | He cautioned that direct comparisons between school judgements in this year's report and previous ones would be misleading, as the inspection regime now was the toughest it had ever been. |
| "Schools that may have been judged as good in previous years might only be judged as satisfactory now," he said. | "Schools that may have been judged as good in previous years might only be judged as satisfactory now," he said. |
| "However, we make no apology for raising the bar. Expectations are higher than ever and judgements need to be tougher than ever. | "However, we make no apology for raising the bar. Expectations are higher than ever and judgements need to be tougher than ever. |
| "No school should be inadequate and there should be no hiding places for underperformance or coasting." | "No school should be inadequate and there should be no hiding places for underperformance or coasting." |
| The new Education and Inspections Act was introducing new powers to turn around schools, closing or replacing them if they did not make adequate progress within 12 months. | The new Education and Inspections Act was introducing new powers to turn around schools, closing or replacing them if they did not make adequate progress within 12 months. |
| Special schools | Special schools |
| Shadow education secretary David Willetts said the way to bridge the worrying gap between best and worst was to concentrate on discipline, improving behaviour and more streaming and setting in all schools. | Shadow education secretary David Willetts said the way to bridge the worrying gap between best and worst was to concentrate on discipline, improving behaviour and more streaming and setting in all schools. |
| "There is one success story - special schools," he said. | "There is one success story - special schools," he said. |
| "But the government is putting more effort into closing good special schools than closing inadequate secondary schools." | "But the government is putting more effort into closing good special schools than closing inadequate secondary schools." |
| There should be a moratorium on special school closures. | There should be a moratorium on special school closures. |
| The report showed four special schools closed over the last year, compared with none the previous year. | The report showed four special schools closed over the last year, compared with none the previous year. |
| The head of the NASUWT teachers' union, Chris Keates, said this was "the same old tired annual report" they had come to expect. | The head of the NASUWT teachers' union, Chris Keates, said this was "the same old tired annual report" they had come to expect. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The problem is that when a school gets a bad reputation those who can leave will leave B Murray, UK Send us your comments She noted that Christine Gilbert took over at Ofsted only last month so had inherited the annual report. | |
| "After 15 years of the same old story, NASUWT hopes that under the leadership of the new chief inspector, Ofsted will abandon its fascination with failure and adopt a fresh start for itself, as it has recommended so many times for so many schools." | "After 15 years of the same old story, NASUWT hopes that under the leadership of the new chief inspector, Ofsted will abandon its fascination with failure and adopt a fresh start for itself, as it has recommended so many times for so many schools." |
| The Association of School and College Leaders said Ofsted was setting up schools for failure and was part of the problem, not the solution. | The Association of School and College Leaders said Ofsted was setting up schools for failure and was part of the problem, not the solution. |
| "Whenever Ofsted introduces a new framework, there are problems for schools inspected in the first year," said general secretary John Dunford. | "Whenever Ofsted introduces a new framework, there are problems for schools inspected in the first year," said general secretary John Dunford. |
| Last year it had taken inspectors six months to learn to use the new progress measure known as contextual value added (CVA). | Last year it had taken inspectors six months to learn to use the new progress measure known as contextual value added (CVA). |
| "Some of the schools judged inadequate during this period have been left with a seething sense of injustice," he said. | "Some of the schools judged inadequate during this period have been left with a seething sense of injustice," he said. |