Ofsted blames heads for failure to hit targets

28 Nov 02
Pupils in a tenth of primary schools are failing to achieve literacy targets as a result of weak leadership and management, according to Ofsted.

29 November 2002

The education watchdog has called for a critical review of the national literacy strategy at government level to kick-start an improvement in standards. Ofsted's inspectors found that head teachers' management of the strategy was improving generally, but as many as 2,000 schools suffered from weak leadership.

A report published on November 26 stated: 'The head teachers in these schools are unfamiliar with how the strategy is developing; they lack knowledge and skill in setting targets; and they delegate responsibility without providing enough support. Put simply, they do not do enough to make a difference to the quality of teaching in their schools.'

Estelle Morris resigned as education secretary in the wake of the government failing to hit its own literacy and numeracy targets. The proportion of 11-year-olds reaching the required standard in English and maths was supposed to reach 80% and 75% respectively by 2002. The targets were missed by five percentage points in English and by two in maths.

David Bell, the chief inspector of schools, said: 'The national strategies for literacy and numeracy continue to have a positive impact in primary schools. But I am concerned that there is still a stubborn core of weak leadership and management where head teachers do not do enough to make a difference to the standards in their schools.'

Education minister David Miliband said: 'Primary standards are the cornerstone of success in education and we will continue to focus on raising them and meeting the targets. The Ofsted reports are helpful in identifying which aspects of teaching and leadership we must tackle if we are to make further improvements.'

PFnov2002

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