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Ofsted warns secondary school progress 'stalled' Ofsted warns secondary school progress 'stalled'
(35 minutes later)
Ofsted is warning that too many secondary schools in England are not making sufficient progress, with almost a third judged not to be good enough.Ofsted is warning that too many secondary schools in England are not making sufficient progress, with almost a third judged not to be good enough.
Chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw will deliver the message that secondary schools have "stalled", in the education watchdog's annual report.Chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw will deliver the message that secondary schools have "stalled", in the education watchdog's annual report.
He will say there are now 170,000 pupils in inadequate secondary schools, about 70,000 more than two years ago. He says there are now 170,000 pupils in inadequate secondary schools, about 70,000 more than two years ago.
Sir Michael will say that primary schools have been much more successful. Sir Michael says primary schools have been much more successful.
The annual report, looking at the outcomes of inspections in 2013-14, will say that the school system continues to improve, with more than four out of five schools now rated good or outstanding.The annual report, looking at the outcomes of inspections in 2013-14, will say that the school system continues to improve, with more than four out of five schools now rated good or outstanding.
Regional gaps Disruption
Much of this progress has been driven by primary schools, with Ofsted saying there are 700,000 more pupils in good and outstanding primary schools than in 2012.Much of this progress has been driven by primary schools, with Ofsted saying there are 700,000 more pupils in good and outstanding primary schools than in 2012.
But Sir Michael will warn that there are more worrying signs in secondary schools, with 50 more in special measures than last year. But Sir Michael warns that there are more worrying signs in secondary schools, with 50 more in special measures than last year.
The rate of improvement has slowed and some have declined, with 71% of secondary schools rated as good or outstanding, compared with 82% of primary schools.The rate of improvement has slowed and some have declined, with 71% of secondary schools rated as good or outstanding, compared with 82% of primary schools.
It means that for secondary schools, 29% are rated as requiring improvement or inadequate.It means that for secondary schools, 29% are rated as requiring improvement or inadequate.
Phil Hearne, of the Hewett School in Norwich, which was rated inadequate in an Ofsted inspection in October and is now in special measures, said the timing of an inspection was also crucial. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Michael said a lack of good leadership was often the key issue, more so than the type of school, such as academy or local authority school.
"If you have an Ofsted that comes in June or July of a year, it's basing a lot of its outcomes on situations that happened almost 12 months before in terms of examination results." He also warned the "transition from primary to secondary can be poor" and the "culture of underperforming schools is not good, with low-level disruption".
"Ofsted doesn't appear to have moved on, whereas I think schools have," he also said. Sir Michael said that autonomy helped schools to improve, but it also required better leadership.
And the Ofsted chief said that more autonomy meant a need for increased monitoring.
He said that was one of the lessons of the so-called Trojan Horse investigation in Birmingham, where schools rated outstanding were downgraded to inadequate.
Regional gaps
Phil Hearne, of the Hewett School in Norwich, which was rated inadequate in an Ofsted inspection, said the inspection process had not kept pace with changes in the school system.
"Ofsted doesn't appear to have moved on, whereas I think schools have.
"It's tinkered around the edges with the size of teams and length of inspections - but what it's doing is essentially the same now as it was doing 10, 15 or 20 years ago.""It's tinkered around the edges with the size of teams and length of inspections - but what it's doing is essentially the same now as it was doing 10, 15 or 20 years ago."
There are also concerns about differences in school quality between different areas. The report will say there are 13 local authorities in which families have less than a 50% chance of getting a good or outstanding school. The annual report will also highlight concerns about differences in school quality between different areas. The report will say there are 13 local authorities in which families have less than a 50% chance of getting a good or outstanding school.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said the authorities needed to "react swiftly" when schools do not meet required standards and her department will work to make sure they have the right leadership. And Sir Michael will say that good leadership is helping to improve primary schools - and that "poor and inconsistent" leadership is holding back secondary schools.
She told the BBC: "One of my tasks is going to be to make sure we see great leadership across the school system.
"We have many excellent head teachers and now we want to see more of them working with schools that need the next boost to make sure that they are not failing their pupils."
'Sterile' arguments
In the annual report, Sir Michael will say that good leadership is helping to improve primary schools - and that "poor and inconsistent" leadership is holding back secondary schools.
He will also warn about low-level disruption and "weak governance and oversight".He will also warn about low-level disruption and "weak governance and oversight".
This year Ofsted has been involved in investigating the Trojan Horse claims in Birmingham, which included allegations that governing bodies were overstepping their role and undermining head teachers.
Launching the report, Sir Michael will say that the continuing arguments over the structure of schools - such as academies or local authority schools - have become "sterile".Launching the report, Sir Michael will say that the continuing arguments over the structure of schools - such as academies or local authority schools - have become "sterile".
"Most people recognise that school autonomy is a good thing," he will say."Most people recognise that school autonomy is a good thing," he will say.
"Where schools are failing, it is not because they are local authority schools or academies, or because they are part of a multi-academy trust or because they stand alone."Where schools are failing, it is not because they are local authority schools or academies, or because they are part of a multi-academy trust or because they stand alone.
"They are failing because they haven't got the essentials right - governance and oversight is weak, leadership is poor, misbehaviour goes unchallenged and teaching is indifferent."They are failing because they haven't got the essentials right - governance and oversight is weak, leadership is poor, misbehaviour goes unchallenged and teaching is indifferent.
"If our education system is to continue to progress we need to concentrate on the basics of why schools and colleges fail and why they succeed.""If our education system is to continue to progress we need to concentrate on the basics of why schools and colleges fail and why they succeed."
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said there needed to be swift reaction when schools were struggling and her department will work to make sure they have the right leadership.
"One of my tasks is going to be to make sure we see great leadership across the school system.
"We have many excellent head teachers and now we want to see more of them working with schools that need the next boost to make sure that they are not failing their pupils."
Are you a parent of a secondary school pupil? Are you a secondary school teacher? What are your thoughts on the issues raised in the story? Send your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you a parent of a secondary school pupil? Are you a secondary school teacher? What are your thoughts on the issues raised in the story? Send your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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