Schools in Kent received top marks this week, with Ofsted now rating 89 per cent of the county’s schools as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, compared to 84 per cent nationally.
This indicates a seven point increase in just a year, which continues the period of sustained improvement over the last five years, when, in 2011, just 59 per cent of Kent schools were at this level.
KCC’s Corporate Director of Education, Patrick Leeson, expressed delight at the result, adding:
“Improving the education, welfare, safety and life chances of children and young people is the most important thing we do, and these continued improvements will make a difference for many years to come.”
The current situation is that 85 per cent of secondary schools, 90 per cent of Primary schools, 98 per cent of Special schools and 86 per cent of Pupil Referral Units are judged to be good or outstanding. Also, 95 per cent of Early Years settings are good or outstanding.
So in total, there are now 370 good and 114 outstanding schools whilst 57 schools require improvement and four are identified as in a category of concern. Although Cabinet member for education, Roger Gough, insisted that the KCC are not going to rest on their laurels:
“Ofsted is continually raising the bar in terms of standards in schools and Kent schools have risen to this challenge. We are continually looking for improvements and have set an ambitious target of at least 90 per cent of primary and secondary schools to be judged good or outstanding in the next year or two.
“Our vision is that every child and young person should go to a good or outstanding school, have access to the best teaching, and benefit from schools and other providers working in partnership with each other to share the best practice as they continue to improve.”
