There were nine key findings from the latest OFSTED Annual Report that you might find relevant and important.
- More schools ‘good’ or better, but fewer ‘outstanding’
- More ‘outstanding’ schools keep grade after ‘wake-up call’
- Fewer schools eligible for intervention
- Schools’ ‘deeper’ curriculum thinking helped catch-up
- Schools are ‘rising to the behaviour challenge’
- Nearly a third of areas ‘failing’ on SEND
- AP used as a ‘shadow SEND system’
- Short inspections ‘restrict professional dialogue’
- Improving picture for ITT
What does this all mean?
Overall, schools have seen an improvement when it comes to inspections – for example, 97% of schools that had “inadequate” ratings had improved. Nationally, 89% of schools are now rated as “good” or “outstanding”.
Despite the government bringing more schools under their scope for intervention (if a school “requires improvement” twice in a row, the government must intervene), the number of schools actually under government guidance has dropped.
Behaviour is a common theme that comes up in discussions around education. Whilst 93% of primary schools were judged “good” or “outstanding” for behaviour and attitudes, this is only 76% for secondary schools.
Most importantly for our remit, it was noted that with the new area SEND inspection framework launched in January 23, 16 areas have been inspected, of which 5 were found to have “widespread and/or systemic failings”.
Rutland was given the highest rating (1) for the SEND Area Review. Leicester and Leicestershire have not been inspected yet under the latest framework.
As was expected, the report also found that “Alternative Provision” was being used to make up the shortage of special school places. This shows a further failing for SEND pupils, as state-funded AP schools are consistently rated lower than mainstream schools. The number of AP placements has increased by 13% this year alone.
You can read the full annual report here.