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| Schools 'not closing social gap' | Schools 'not closing social gap' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The social divide in schools in England shows little sign of closing, says the annual report from education watchdog, Ofsted. | The social divide in schools in England shows little sign of closing, says the annual report from education watchdog, Ofsted. |
| Chief Inspector Christine Gilbert warned that poorer children still had "odds stacked against them" - achieving lower results than wealthier children. | Chief Inspector Christine Gilbert warned that poorer children still had "odds stacked against them" - achieving lower results than wealthier children. |
| "This cannot be right and we need to do more," she said. | "This cannot be right and we need to do more," she said. |
| The report also cautioned that 10% of secondary schools were "inadequate" and 39% were only "satisfactory". | |
| Despite a series of government initiatives to tackle social inequality in schools, the report from Ofsted concludes that "the relationship between poverty and outcomes for young people is stark". | Despite a series of government initiatives to tackle social inequality in schools, the report from Ofsted concludes that "the relationship between poverty and outcomes for young people is stark". |
| 'Deprived' | 'Deprived' |
| "Young people living in the most deprived areas do worst in exams and are less likely to go to university," said Ms Gilbert, introducing her report on standards in education. | "Young people living in the most deprived areas do worst in exams and are less likely to go to university," said Ms Gilbert, introducing her report on standards in education. |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2007 Outstanding: 14%Good: 46%Satisfactory: 34%Inadequate: 10%522 schools in special measures Source: Ofsted inspections of 6,800 schools in England Failing schools now outstanding | ANNUAL REPORT 2007 Outstanding: 14%Good: 46%Satisfactory: 34%Inadequate: 10%522 schools in special measures Source: Ofsted inspections of 6,800 schools in England Failing schools now outstanding |
| "Schools in deprived areas are more likely to be inadequate than those serving more affluent areas." | "Schools in deprived areas are more likely to be inadequate than those serving more affluent areas." |
| The report shows that only 33% of pupils who are eligible for free school meals achieved five or more good GCSEs, compared to 61% of other pupils. | The report shows that only 33% of pupils who are eligible for free school meals achieved five or more good GCSEs, compared to 61% of other pupils. |
| And she warned of the "deep-rooted" problem that saw 200,000 teenagers who remained outside of education, training or employment. | And she warned of the "deep-rooted" problem that saw 200,000 teenagers who remained outside of education, training or employment. |
| But the link between low family income and low achievement in school is "not straightforward", says the report, with gender and ethnicity also playing a part - with white, working-class boys making less progress than other groups. | But the link between low family income and low achievement in school is "not straightforward", says the report, with gender and ethnicity also playing a part - with white, working-class boys making less progress than other groups. |
| The report, which brings together the evidence of inspections, shows that 14% of schools were outstanding - up by three percentage points from last year. The percentage of inadequate schools had dropped from 13% to 10%. | |
| Weak performance | Weak performance |
| But Ms Gilbert warned that below the surface of these figures there were still worrying signs of underachievement - often overlapping with concerns about the weak performance of schools in deprived areas. | But Ms Gilbert warned that below the surface of these figures there were still worrying signs of underachievement - often overlapping with concerns about the weak performance of schools in deprived areas. |
| "It cannot be right that 20% of pupils leave primary school without a solid foundation in literacy and numeracy," she said. | "It cannot be right that 20% of pupils leave primary school without a solid foundation in literacy and numeracy," she said. |
| The figure of one in 10 secondary schools being inadequate was less than last year, but remained a "significant concern". | The figure of one in 10 secondary schools being inadequate was less than last year, but remained a "significant concern". |
| Last year, the chief inspector warned that it was "not good enough" that so many schools remained in the "satisfactory" category. | Last year, the chief inspector warned that it was "not good enough" that so many schools remained in the "satisfactory" category. |
| But this year's figures show that half of secondary schools remained either satisfactory or worse. | |
| "I see no reason why every school should not now aspire to be a 'good' school," she said. | "I see no reason why every school should not now aspire to be a 'good' school," she said. |
| In introducing the annual report, Ms Gilbert also commented on the forthcoming vocationally-oriented Diplomas - observing that some head teachers were not enthusiastic about their introduction. | |
| Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said: "We know that we must do more to help the poorest, the most disadvantaged and the vulnerable to prosper and succeed. These are harder nuts to crack." | |
| The Conservatives' schools spokesman, Nick Gibb, said: "It is unacceptable that almost half of secondary schools are judged no better than satisfactory - this is not good enough and explains why parents clamour to get their children into the few secondary schools judged to be the best." | The Conservatives' schools spokesman, Nick Gibb, said: "It is unacceptable that almost half of secondary schools are judged no better than satisfactory - this is not good enough and explains why parents clamour to get their children into the few secondary schools judged to be the best." |