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Following the recent inspections of 18 primary schools in Staffordshire in March 2014, Ofsted has written to Staffordshire County Council to advise it of the findings.

The focused inspections are part of a concerted programme of action by Ofsted to establish why children in some parts of the country have a much lower chance of attending a good or better school than their peers in other similar areas.

In Staffordshire, Ofsted’s main concern centres on the progress made by pupils at primary school whereby a large number of schools do not yet provide their pupils with a good education. Of the 18 primary schools that were inspected:

• two were judged outstanding
• seven judged good
• six judged requires improvement
• three judged special measures – these schools had declined from a previous good judgement.

During the inspections, Ofsted also gathered information on the use, quality and impact of Staffordshire Council’s support for school improvement by asking additional key questions of headteachers and governors.

The letter sent to the local authority has been published on the Ofsted website.

Notes to editors

1. The letter to Staffordshire Council can be found on Ofsted’s website.

2. The schools inspected were: Kingsfield First School; Hob Hill CE/Methodist (VC) Primary School; All Saints CofE (A) First School; Leek First School; Springcroft Primary School; Silkmore Community Primary School; St Saviour's CofE (VC) Primary School; St Paul's CofE (C) Primary School; St Patrick's Catholic Primary School; Bhylls Acre Primary School; Hayes Meadow Primary School; Castlechurch Primary School; St Chad's CofE (C) Primary School; Our Lady and St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School; Mary Howard CofE (VC) Primary School; Amington Heath Primary School and Nursery; St Margaret's CofE (C) Junior School; and Thomas Barnes Primary School.

3. On 17 January 2013, Ofsted announced the first wave of focused school inspections across local authority areas, where children are being denied the standard of education they deserve. The press release is available on the Ofsted website.

4. Local authority areas were selected for the focused school inspection programme on the basis of the relative proportion of children attending good or better primary schools, as set out in the last Ofsted Annual Report, and Ofsted data on the proportion of children attending good or better secondary schools, as well as any relevant inspection evidence gathered during the autumn 2012 term. These are standard section 5 inspections, which were scheduled to take place this academic year and include all types of schools – although the majority will be primary schools.

5. Ofsted’s Annual Report is available on the website atwww.ofsted.gov.uk/about-us/annual-report.

6. The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

7. Media can contact the Ofsted Press Office through 03000 130415 or via Ofsted’s enquiry line 0300 1231231 between 8.30am – 6.00pm, Monday – Friday. Out of these hours, during evenings and weekends, the duty press officer can be reached on 07919 057359.