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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Failing schools statistics steady | Failing schools statistics steady |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The number of schools in England judged by inspectors to be failing or given given notice to improve has remained steady on the same period last year. | The number of schools in England judged by inspectors to be failing or given given notice to improve has remained steady on the same period last year. |
| In the autumn term 2006, 82 schools were put into "special measures", compared to 85 in the same term 2005. | In the autumn term 2006, 82 schools were put into "special measures", compared to 85 in the same term 2005. |
| And in autumn 2006, 113 schools were ordered to improve compared to 120 in the autumn of the previous year. | And in autumn 2006, 113 schools were ordered to improve compared to 120 in the autumn of the previous year. |
| Ofsted said its inspectors had "raised the bar" for what passed as a satisfactory standard of education. | Ofsted said its inspectors had "raised the bar" for what passed as a satisfactory standard of education. |
| The watchdog also warned that some schools previously judged to be good would now be rated as "satisfactory". | The watchdog also warned that some schools previously judged to be good would now be rated as "satisfactory". |
| Expectations rise | Expectations rise |
| The Ofsted report said: "Ofsted has been clear since a new inspection framework was introduced in September 2005 that we have raised the bar of expected performance for schools because what was considered good ten years ago is not be considered good any longer. | The Ofsted report said: "Ofsted has been clear since a new inspection framework was introduced in September 2005 that we have raised the bar of expected performance for schools because what was considered good ten years ago is not be considered good any longer. |
| "Our expectations as taxpayers and consumers are always rising, and so too are expectations of public services including education. | "Our expectations as taxpayers and consumers are always rising, and so too are expectations of public services including education. |
| We make no apology for this tough stance against failing or coasting schools Jim Knight, schools minister | We make no apology for this tough stance against failing or coasting schools Jim Knight, schools minister |
| "Parents want good schools for their children and schools should aspire to be good or better." | "Parents want good schools for their children and schools should aspire to be good or better." |
| Schools minister Jim Knight said standards were rising. | Schools minister Jim Knight said standards were rising. |
| "Despite a small rise in the number of schools in special measures, the total still remains below 1% of all schools, and half the number that were in special measures in 1998," he said. | "Despite a small rise in the number of schools in special measures, the total still remains below 1% of all schools, and half the number that were in special measures in 1998," he said. |
| "But we're not complacent and are turning these schools around more quickly. | "But we're not complacent and are turning these schools around more quickly. |
| "We have raised the bar, so that schools which previously would have avoided attention now find themselves in special measures. | "We have raised the bar, so that schools which previously would have avoided attention now find themselves in special measures. |
| "We make no apology for this tough stance against failing or coasting schools." | "We make no apology for this tough stance against failing or coasting schools." |
| 'Ofsted has had its day' | 'Ofsted has had its day' |
| Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union, accused Ofsted of passing unhelpful judgements on schools. | |
| Schools now find themselves in an Alice in Wonderland situation where what was once considered satisfactory is now unsatisfactory Steve SinnottNational Union of Teachers "The constant moving of the goalposts to define what constitutes satisfactory or unsatisfactory, means Ofsted's pronouncements are increasingly unreliable. | |
| "The ever changing definitions of success and failure, contradictory reports and the unreliability of its statistics are just some of the factors which make it increasingly evident that Ofsted has had its day." | "The ever changing definitions of success and failure, contradictory reports and the unreliability of its statistics are just some of the factors which make it increasingly evident that Ofsted has had its day." |
| And the National Union of Teacher said the current inspection arrangements were "in urgent need of fundamental review". | And the National Union of Teacher said the current inspection arrangements were "in urgent need of fundamental review". |
| General secretary Steve Sinnott said: "Ofsted's figures demonstrate the unfairness of the current inspection regime. | General secretary Steve Sinnott said: "Ofsted's figures demonstrate the unfairness of the current inspection regime. |
| "Ofsted's open admission that it has raised the bar of schools performance means for schools an arbitrary moving of the goal posts. | "Ofsted's open admission that it has raised the bar of schools performance means for schools an arbitrary moving of the goal posts. |
| "Schools now find themselves in an Alice in Wonderland situation where what was once considered satisfactory is now unsatisfactory." | "Schools now find themselves in an Alice in Wonderland situation where what was once considered satisfactory is now unsatisfactory." |