The quality of education for too many children and young people in the North West remains a postcode lottery according to the latest figures released by the national inspectors OFSTED.
While overall education outcomes are improving in the region and
Primary schools are performing above the national level, secondary schools are falling behind with too many still not good enough.
The inspectors found that whiteBritish young people from poor families get a particularly raw deal. These young people are likely see the gap between them and their peers increase as they progress through their education.
The gap in attainment for those on free school meals and their peers remains a concern, with Stockport and Cheshire East showing the widest gap in GCSE achievement.
Too many of the brightest pupils underperform. Of the twenty three local authorities in the region, thirteen are below the national level for the percentage of children achieving at least Level 5 at GCSE in English and maths.
OFSTED found that in many schools, low-level disruption and misbehaviour has a detrimental effect on learning.
Oldham (42 per cent) have a high percentage of secondary schools where behaviour has been judged as less than good, compared with England level of 15 per cent.
The better news is that the Further Education sector is strong with ninety per cent judged good or outstanding, which is significantly higher than nationally eight five per cent. However, there remain concerns about the quality of the curriculum.
Lack of good leadership is the main challenge for schools, says the Inspectorate.There are too few outstanding leaders and teachers in the areas which need them the most.
Jo Morgan, Ofsted Regional Director for the North West, said:
“It is a credit to teachers and school leaders that the educational outcomes for children and learners in the North West are improving. Eighty-six per cent of children are now going to a primary school that is good or outstanding.
“However, the quality of provision for too many children remains a postcode lottery. There is simply too much variation across the region and the quality of education in secondary schools continues to lag behind primary. In Trafford 91 per cent of schools are good or outstanding but in Oldham it is only 75 per cent.
“These shortcomings are hitting the region’s poorest and most disadvantaged children the hardest. White British young people from poor families are particularly getting a raw deal.
“Currently, too much leadership is at best unfocused and at worst completely absent. Too few outstanding leaders and teachers are working in the areas which need them the most.
“I am committed to improving the quality of learning and outcomes in the region. Ofsted will continue to challenge and support underperforming schools and providers so that they can build on the improvement we have already seen and ensure all young people have access to the standard of education that they deserve.”
