Schools Not Closing Social Gap
The annual report from Ofsted inspectors shows that there is little sign of the social divide in English Schools closing. Chief Inspector Christine Gilbert warned that poorer children still had “odds stacked against them” and were achieving lower results than wealthier children. Despite a series of government initiatives to tackle social inequality in schools, the report from Ofsted concludes that “the relationship between poverty and outcomes for young people is stark”.
Important 2007 report findings on school level:
· Outstanding – 14%
· Good – 46%
· Satisfactory – 34%
· Inadequate – 6%
· Schools with Special Measures – 522
Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said: “We know that we must do more to help the poorest, the most disadvantaged and vulnerable to prosper and succeed. These are harder nuts to crack.” The Conservatives’ schools spokesman, Nick Gibb, added: “It is unacceptable that almost half of secondary schools are judged no better than satisfactory – this is not good enough and explains why parents clamour to get their children into the few secondary schools judged to be the best.”
16th Oct 2007
