Ofsted reports back to Thurrock Council following focused inspections
8 Apr 2014 03:45 PM
Following the recent inspections of seven
schools in Thurrock in February 2014, Ofsted has written to Thurrock Local
Authority 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
Thurrock, Ofsted’s main concern centres on the low proportion of good or
outstanding primary schools, which is well below the average for local
authorities in the East of England and indeed all authorities
nationally.
Six
primary schools and one secondary were inspected during the focused period 24
– 28 February. The schools were all due for inspection by the end of this
academic year.
During the inspections, Ofsted also gathered information
on the use, quality and impact of Thurrock Local Authority’s support for
school improvement by asking three additional key questions of headteachers and
governors.
The letter sent to the Local Authority has been published on the
Ofsted website.
Notes to editors:
- The letter to
Thurrock Council can be found at Ofsted website.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ofsted’s Annual Report is available on the website
atwww.ofsted.gov.uk/about-us/annual-report.
- 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.
- 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.