Ofsted reveals sharp rise in failing schools
The schools’ inspectorate Ofsted has revealed a sharp rise in the number of failing schools.
Ofsted’s annual report, which will be closely scrutinised by the government, opposition parties and schools themselves, found that the number of failing schools has increased over the past year.
But it stopped short of condemning the government for those failures.
Chief Inspector of Schools David Bell suggested that it is only right that there should be an increased expectation of the quality of education provided in schools. As such an increase in failing schools is primarily because standards have increased, he said, rather than a fall in quality of schools.
There are now around 1,000 schools not showing sufficient progress according to Ofsted, adding that there remains a substantial difference in the progress between different groups of people.
Mr Bell suggested that the differences, in particular social class, still badly affect the number of children entering university.
Following recent high-profile statements by both Education Secretary Ruth Kelly and her opposite number in the Conservative party, Tim Collins, low-level day-to-day classroom disturbances also featured in the report. It reported that there had been no reduction in the number of schools where overall behaviour is unsatisfactory.
Turning to the continuing rise in exam results, Mr Bell suggested that, while it is not yet the time for “unbridled enthusiasm”, there is reason to be cautiously optimistic over the future of England’s education system.
He said that there exists a culture among teachers to do better and an ambition to tackle failure, which is helping to ensure school exam results continue their upward trend.
