06 February 2004
Teaching unions this week laid the blame for the latest increase in the number of failing schools squarely with funding shortages and the school inspectorate's 'shifting goalposts'.
Ofsted's annual report, published on February 4, revealed that 160 schools were made subject to special measures in 2002/03, taking the total up to 282 and representing the first rise in failing school numbers since 1999/2000.
National Union of Teachers general secretary Doug McAvoy said last year's funding levels were inadequate, while recruitment and retention of staff in unpopular locations was becoming more difficult. 'I suspect these lie at the root of the increase in numbers of schools going into special measures and the decline in the numbers coming out,' he said.
National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers general secretary Eamonn O'Kane said the increase was to be expected, following chief inspector David Bell's suggestion last year that a 'satisfactory' category was no longer good enough. 'Schools that previously would not have been categorised as failing are now added to the list,' O'Kane said.
But Bell said expectations of the education sector had risen and Ofsted had to reflect this. 'The education system doesn't stand still and the inspectorate shouldn't stand still either,' he said.
Bell added that special measures often marked 'day one of recovery' for schools.
'I defend the special measures approach vigorously. The alternative is that we don't highlight areas where there are significant weaknesses,' he said.
The report criticised a lack of progress in primary school standards and a widening gap between pupils' achievement in the core curriculum and other subjects such as music and art.
'There is still some way to go in ensuring that all pupils in our primary schools enjoy a rich and fulfiling curriculum as well as being taught the basics of English and mathematics effectively,' Bell said. 'We cannot afford, and our children do not deserve, a two-tier curriculum.'
There was also concern about the continuing gap in achievement between different pupil groups, especially the underperformance of white boys from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds.
But Bell said there was much that deserved 'quiet celebration'. He urged all in the education system not to rest on their laurels. 'Government and teachers need to tackle the persistent problems with renewed vigour,' he said.
PFfeb2004
