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Ofsted set for concentrated inspections in under-performing areas Ofsted set for concentrated inspections in under-performing areas
(35 minutes later)
By Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC NewsBy Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC News
There are to be concentrated waves of Ofsted inspections in areas of England said to be under-performing, the watchdog is announcing.There are to be concentrated waves of Ofsted inspections in areas of England said to be under-performing, the watchdog is announcing.
Chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw says the performance gap between some areas is "completely unacceptable".Chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw says the performance gap between some areas is "completely unacceptable".
Inspections will be brought forward in six regions where he says standards are too low.Inspections will be brought forward in six regions where he says standards are too low.
The first area to be targeted will be Derby, where inspectors will go in today. Derby is the first area to be targeted, its city council said it had made huge improvements recently.
The other areas have not yet been named. The other areas to be targeted have not yet been named.
At an education conference in Sheffield, it is expected that Sir Michael will say that schools in under-performing areas that are due to be inspected in the next six months will be checked within the same week.At an education conference in Sheffield, it is expected that Sir Michael will say that schools in under-performing areas that are due to be inspected in the next six months will be checked within the same week.
'Regrettable decision''Regrettable decision'
Such concentrated inspections will be held in all targeted areas in the next few months.Such concentrated inspections will be held in all targeted areas in the next few months.
Speaking on the Today programme, Sir Michael said there was a "huge difference in school standards between local authorities," even when comparing areas that had similar populations and levels of deprivation.Speaking on the Today programme, Sir Michael said there was a "huge difference in school standards between local authorities," even when comparing areas that had similar populations and levels of deprivation.
"We are targeting the lowest-performing local authorities and we will go into Derby today to find out what is happening," he said."We are targeting the lowest-performing local authorities and we will go into Derby today to find out what is happening," he said.
"In Derby, parents have a less than 50% chance of finding a good primary school and a 40% chance of a good secondary.""In Derby, parents have a less than 50% chance of finding a good primary school and a 40% chance of a good secondary."
Ofsted identified several areas as under-performing in its annual report last November, saying these were places where too few schools were classed as either good or outstanding.Ofsted identified several areas as under-performing in its annual report last November, saying these were places where too few schools were classed as either good or outstanding.
The areas included Coventry, Derby and Doncaster.The areas included Coventry, Derby and Doncaster.
Inspectors will descend on targeted areas in a set week and heads will be asked whether they are getting enough support from their local council.Inspectors will descend on targeted areas in a set week and heads will be asked whether they are getting enough support from their local council.
If Ofsted is not satisfied, it plans to go into town halls to inspect school improvement services for the first time, it is understood, although this change will require consultation.If Ofsted is not satisfied, it plans to go into town halls to inspect school improvement services for the first time, it is understood, although this change will require consultation.
'Inspections welcomed''Inspections welcomed'
Derby City Council's cabinet member for children and young people Martin Rawson told BBC Radio Derby he welcomed the announcement of fresh inspections as an "opportunity to demonstrate the huge improvements made in the last few months".Derby City Council's cabinet member for children and young people Martin Rawson told BBC Radio Derby he welcomed the announcement of fresh inspections as an "opportunity to demonstrate the huge improvements made in the last few months".
He said recent inspections in the area had shown that schools were making progress.He said recent inspections in the area had shown that schools were making progress.
As a group, councils say they agree improvements are needed in some areas, but that their powers are hampered by bureaucracy and have been restricted by the increasing numbers of schools becoming academies, which are semi-independent and seen as outside of council control. As a group, councils say they agree improvements are needed in some areas, but that their powers are hampered by bureaucracy and have been restricted by the increasing numbers of schools becoming academies, which are semi-independent and are outside of council control.
They say most of the powers they have to intervene in under-performing schools can be used only once Ofsted has put a school into a "failing" category and that they have less freedom than the trusts which run academies to intervene in struggling schools.They say most of the powers they have to intervene in under-performing schools can be used only once Ofsted has put a school into a "failing" category and that they have less freedom than the trusts which run academies to intervene in struggling schools.
The Association of Directors of Children's Services says the decision to bring in new inspections of council's school improvement services "without notice" is "regrettable and unsound".The Association of Directors of Children's Services says the decision to bring in new inspections of council's school improvement services "without notice" is "regrettable and unsound".
'Stark inequalities''Stark inequalities'
Andrew Webb, from the association, said: "Schools of all types have developed their own approaches to improvement and some make only minimal use of the local authority services on offer, others use them wholeheartedly.Andrew Webb, from the association, said: "Schools of all types have developed their own approaches to improvement and some make only minimal use of the local authority services on offer, others use them wholeheartedly.
"So, whilst ADCS welcomes the chance for schools to provide feedback on the support they receive from local authorities, this may reflect a very small part of the local picture, particularly where schools make maximum use of their independence.""So, whilst ADCS welcomes the chance for schools to provide feedback on the support they receive from local authorities, this may reflect a very small part of the local picture, particularly where schools make maximum use of their independence."
And David Simmonds, from the Local Government Association, told Today: "Mums and dads have an expectation that there will be a good school available to them and expect local authorities will take responsibility for making sure that this is the case, but there has been a very clear message from the government about school independence and separating schools from local authorities."And David Simmonds, from the Local Government Association, told Today: "Mums and dads have an expectation that there will be a good school available to them and expect local authorities will take responsibility for making sure that this is the case, but there has been a very clear message from the government about school independence and separating schools from local authorities."
In November Ofsted launched a league table ranking local authorities according to inspectors' ratings of schools.In November Ofsted launched a league table ranking local authorities according to inspectors' ratings of schools.
At the time Sir Michael said the inequalities for local children were "stark."At the time Sir Michael said the inequalities for local children were "stark."
In some areas, there was a less than 50% chance of a good or outstanding school, he said, compared with more than 90% in others.In some areas, there was a less than 50% chance of a good or outstanding school, he said, compared with more than 90% in others.
Ofsted's annual report also said schools in England were getting better, with 70% of schools now rated good or outstanding compared with 64% five years ago.Ofsted's annual report also said schools in England were getting better, with 70% of schools now rated good or outstanding compared with 64% five years ago.