09 June 2000
LEA support for schools in Tameside 'too often lacks consistency, coherence and strategic direction', Ofsted said.
'Despite some recent progress, the LEA has yet to demonstrate that it is able to match resources to priorities and provide the strong and sustained educational leadership and direction which its schools need.'
The inspectors recommended a return visit within two years. They say the authority, which is funded below the level of most metropolitan LEAs, has a far lower than average proportion of adults with higher educational qualifications at just 7.5%. Ofsted also found that levels of participation in education beyond the age of 16 were 'significantly' below national levels.
The LEA was also judged to be weak on support for special educational needs, school management and information communications technology development.
Ironically, Tameside was at the heart of a previous education controversy in 1989, when a boys' comprehensive in the area was among the first schools to opt out of local government control under the Tories' Education Reform Act.
Ofsted also published reports on Trafford in Greater Manchester and Brighton and Hove, both of which emerged with more credit.
The strengths of Trafford's education authority outweighed its weaknesses, Ofsted said, but the LEA has only just produced a strategic plan and has no formal, consistent system of planning and evaluation.
In Brighton and Hove, the LEA does most of what it does well, according to inspectors. There is effective leadership from members and officers and the LEA has the ability to deliver its sound school improvement strategy.
PFjun2000