804 of region’s primaries given top Ofsted grades yet fail to master the basics
New analysis shows that 36% of the Midlands’ 2226 primary schools that have been deemed ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ by Ofsted are failing to ensure that enough of their students get the basics in reading, writing and adding up.
By the end of their primary education, 11 year olds are expected to achieve at least Level 4 across these basic skills. Research has shown that this is the level needed if children are to go on and successfully secure five GCSEs at A*- C. In fact evidence shows that without this foundation, just 6% of students go on to achieve five good GCSEs.
Across the country, an average of 80% of children reach Level 4. But in the Midlands 36% of schools graded as Good or Outstanding is falling short of this benchmark – a total of 804 schools. Across England, one in three (33.2%) of schools graded as Good or Outstanding is falling short of this average achievement – a total of 3,802 schools.
The same pattern is also evident when you look at pupils’ progress. Taking into account the starting point of different pupil intakes, primary schools are expected to see their pupils make two or more levels of progress. But almost half (49%) of the Midlands’ Good or Outstanding primaries also failed to match the average number of children achieving this in reading, writing or maths.
Nick Timothy, Director of New Schools Network said:
“Strong accountability is critical to the success of our schools system. Free schools and academies are already more accountable than maintained schools. They are accountable to the Education Funding Agency for their finances, to Regional Schools Commissioners for their performance, and they’re accountable to central government which can, in extremis, close them down. They’re also more directly accountable to parents compared to maintained schools.
“This research shows that so-called ‘Good’ schools are not giving children the start to their education that they need in the Midlands and that more needs to be done to improve accountability in the system as a whole. Parents across the Midlands will be shocked to know that primary schools in the region that are called ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ are failing to equip enough of their pupils with the basics in literacy and numeracy.
“We urgently need hundreds of good, new schools, and we need existing successful schools to open new schools and take over others. This is the only way we will meet the twin challenge of meeting rising demand for school places and improving school standards across the country.”
