Policy Hub
On 19 November 2008, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) published its 2007/08 annual report which covers the first full year of the organisation’s wider remit - inspecting and regulating education, childcare, social care, children’s services, adult learning and the skills sector.
The report highlights the fact that almost two-thirds of inspected schools are now judged to be good or outstanding - up 5% from 2005/06.
Similarly, colleges of further education continue to improve, with the proportion considered to be good or outstanding recorded at 71%. In the workplace, 58% of learning is rated good or outstanding and the best 14-19 partnerships are now making a real difference in raising participation and achievement.
Despite such improvements, the report warns that poor quality services exist at every stage of the education and care sector for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Also, whilst educational achievement is improving overall, Ofsted contends that there is too much variation between local areas and in outcomes for disadvantaged groups of pupils and their peers.