Ofsted’s annual report to warn secondary schools over inadequacy

According to the 2014 Ofsted annual report, a third of schools have been labelled as unsatisfactory.

Despite report statistics showings four out of five schools as good or outstanding, findings revealed that these ratings were primarily awarded to primary schools.

Chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said that statistics paint a worrying picture as 50 more secondary schools have been put into special measures, and the number of pupils in inadequate schools is now up to 170,000. This has more than doubled over the last two years.

However, Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), disagreed with Wilshaw’s perspective that “improvement in secondary schools has stalled”.

Lightman asserted that “there is a steely determination to continue to raise standards”. His comments demonstrated motivation supported by report findings which showed a record number of schools as good or outstanding that had maintained their rating consistently.

Wilshaw also had complaints about the number of trainee teachers being placed in the best secondary schools, leaving establishments most at risk with inadequate support, as well as the uneven distribution of these teachers across the country. He warned: “The nation must avoid a polarised education system where good schools get better at the expense of weaker schools.”

Halimat Shode