Ofsted inspectors target under-performing schools
Teams of Ofsted inspectors are in Derby in the first of a wave of focused school inspections targeting areas said to be under-performing.
Ofsted primary school league table
Ofsted have warned that, nationally, more than 2 million children are still not getting a decent education.
Children at risk says Ofsted report
Vulnerable children are still at risk because Birmingham City Council has failed to meet improvement targets.
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Councillor explains resignation after damning Ofsted report
The Cabinet member for children and families at Sandwell Council, Bob Badham, describes why he's decided to step down after Ofsted found the local authority was failing vulnerable children in its care.
Council leader: 'bottom line is this simply isn't good enough'
The leader of Sandwell Council Darren Cooper has apologised for the poor Ofsted results, which rated the local authority's children's services department as 'failing' and 'inadequate'.
He goes onto say, although not making excuses, he told the regulator it was a bad time to assess the local authority before the inspection was carried out.
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'I've decided to resign with immediate effect,' says Sandwell Councillor
Sandwell’s children’s services boss, Councillor Bob Badham, has stepped down from his post after Ofsted assessed the council's arrangements for protecting children to be inadequate.
Ofsted carried out an unannounced inspection of child protection services in February this year.
It uncovered failings in overall effectiveness, help and protection for young people, quality of practice, and leadership and governance.
– Councillor Bob Badham, Cabinet member for children's servicesAs the cabinet member I have final responsibility for ensuring children’s services are fit for purpose. The Ofsted report has made it clear that they are not and therefore I have decided to resign with immediate effect.
I was fully aware of problems with the service and knew we had to take radical action.
Sandwell Council Cabinet Member resigns following Ofsted report
by Callum WatkinsonCouncillor Bob Badham, Sandwell Council Cabinet Member for Children and Families, has resigned in the wake of an Ofsted report yesterday that branded children's services in the borough 'inadequate'.
It follows yesterday's resignation of Helen Smith, who was the council's director of Children and Families Services.
Senior council manager resigns for 'inadequate' child services
A manager in a West Midlands council has resigned following an Ofsted investigation, which found that child protection services weren't good enough.
Helen Smith, director of Child Services, has left Sandwell Council following an inspection in February this year.
Improvements are now being made, the council has confirmed, with more social workers being employed to help resolve the problem.
Ofsted inspectors target under-performing schools
by Peter Bearne
Teams of Ofsted inspectors are in Derby in the first of a wave of focused school inspections targeting areas said to be under-performing.
Read the full storyAdvertisement
Less than half the children in Derby go to 'good' or 'better' schools
The latest figures show that only 43% of primary school age children in Derby go to good or better schools and 42% of secondary school age children.
Today, HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, will announce his plan of action in a keynote speech to the North of England Education Conference, including:
- A series of targeted school inspections within a condensed one-week period in areas where the proportion of children attending a good or better school is currently well below the national average for England.
- A new framework for Ofsted to inspect the school improvement service being provided by under-performing local authorities.
- A good practice survey- to share and showcase some of the best examples of local authority support.
Ofsted starts crack-down on failing schools in Derby
Ofsted will start sending teams of inspectors into areas where high numbers of pupils are not getting a good education, in a bid to raise school standards.
In a series of inspections, the watchdog will visit Derby first, as it travels around local authority areas in England over the next few weeks.
These are all areas where the proportion of children attending a good or outstanding school is well below the national average for England, **Ofsted said.
It is understood that about 10% of schools in each area will face an inspection.
Postcode lottery for children's chances, full report
In what is being described as a wake up call, the Chief Inspector of schools has warned of an unacceptable postcode lottery for children's chances of a getting a good education. Derby is ranked in the bottom two of a national league table of primary schools judged 'good' or 'outstanding'.
The report shows only 42% of schools in the city make the grade. Yet elsewhere in the Midlands the percentages are significantly higher . Why the difference? Our political correspondent Alison Mackenzie reports.
Ofsted primary school league table
Ofsted have warned that, nationally, more than 2 million children are still not getting a decent education.
Read the full story