Ofsted figures show almost half of schools not doing well enough

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jun/12/ofsted-figures-show-schools-underperforming

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Almost half of schools inspected in the first three months of this year were found to be not good enough, new figures show.

Statistics published by Ofsted reveal that 34% of the 1,964 schools visited by inspectors between January and March were only satisfactory.

And a further 9% were judged to be inadequate and either given a notice to improve or put in special measures. This is higher than the previous academic year, 2010/11, when 6% were found to be inadequate.

Ofsted said this is likely to be because, since January, schools have been inspected under a new regime.

Under the system, schools previously rated "outstanding" are now not routinely inspected and those considered "good" are visited less frequently.

It means that Ofsted is now inspecting more weaker schools as well as good and outstanding schools where potential concerns have been identified.

The latest figures also show that 7% of the schools visited between January and March were found to be "outstanding", while half were declared "good".

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: "It is encouraging to see 50% of schools inspected since January were judged as good and 7% outstanding.

"Ofsted's revised school inspection arrangements from September 2012 will aim to identify in particular inadequate and satisfactory schools that need to do better.

"The grade 'satisfactory' will cease to exist and Ofsted will monitor and support schools that 'require improvement' and focus them on helping raise standards quickly."

The statistics also show that of the 144 outstanding schools inspected in this quarter, all were found to have outstanding teaching.

Concerns had previously been raised that a number of schools were being judged as outstanding despite having teaching that was only considered good.

Figures for the final quarter of 2011 show that of 294 outstanding schools inspected, 122 were found to have teaching rated as good.

The Ofsted chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, confirmed last month that, from September, only schools and colleges with outstanding teaching will be awarded this rating overall.

The move means that hundreds of outstanding schools could face having their Ofsted status reviews downgraded because their teaching did not get the top grade.

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "These statistics match the data we have been collecting from secondary schools since the new framework took effect. Ofsted said that it was making inspection tougher and feedback from schools is that it is now more difficult to achieve a good or outstanding grade.

"This means it is not possible to use the latest figures to make year-on-year comparisons, and we're pleased that Ofsted has said this again today. It's important for parents to recognise that in terms of Ofsted, schools have to keep improving in order to maintain the same grade. A school rated good twice in a row will have had to improve in order to achieve that. A school which moves up a category will have made significant improvements since its last inspection.

"The figures do raise concerns about what will happen in September when the category of 'satisfactory' becomes 'requires improvement' and these schools are subject to additional scrutiny.

"Ofsted and the Department for Education will need to ensure that they have the resources and support mechanisms ready and available to help these schools do what they need to in order to improve."