6 December 2016 weekly update

Dear Colleagues

Ofsted Inspection Update and Annual Report 2016

As we approach Christmas it is helpful to share the latest Ofsted inspection figures which show steady further improvements in the quality of education in Kent schools.

Ofsted published its Annual Report on 1 December and we can compare Kent’s performance with the national averages.

Overall, 90% of schools in Kent are now rated good or outstanding compared to 89% nationally. This includes 21% of schools judged to be outstanding and 69% judged to be good. This is in line with our target of 90% for summer 2017, so we are making very good progress.

This overall figure includes 91% of Primary schools judged to be good or outstanding, 86% of Secondary schools, 100% of Special schools and 86% of PRUs in Kent. Also, 97% of Early Years settings are good or outstanding, which is excellent.

In Kent, there are now 375 good and 114 outstanding schools, 50 schools requiring improvement (including 37 Primary schools and 12 Secondary schools) and 4 schools in a category of concern, out of a total of 545 schools that have a current inspection result. Overall there are 28 more good and outstanding schools compared to this time last year.

In Kent, 17.5% of Primary schools are outstanding, 73% are good, 9% require improvement and 0.5% are inadequate. 31% of Secondary schools are outstanding, 55% are good, 12% require improvement and 2% are inadequate. 36% of Special schools are outstanding and 64% are good. 29% of Pupil Referral Units are outstanding, 57% are good and 14% require improvement.

Kent has more outstanding provision in Secondary schools and PRUs than the national averages. The percentage of outstanding provision is just below the national average for Primary and Special schools. However the overall percentage of outstanding schools in Kent, at 21%, is the same as the national average for all schools.

Pupils Attending a Good or Better School

In Kent now, 88% of pupils attend a good or outstanding school, including 88% of Primary pupils, 87% of Secondary pupils and 100% of pupils attending Special schools. This means that 8097 more pupils attend a good or outstanding school compared to December last year, including 6439 more Primary pupils and 1417 more Secondary pupils. The highest performing local areas in the country have 98% to 100% of pupils attending good or outstanding schools. Kent is ranked 101 out of 152 local authority areas for Primary numbers and 63 out of 152 for Secondary numbers.

The trend over time continues to be a good rate of improvement. In December 2015, 84% of schools were good or outstanding which was in line with the national average. At that time, there were 361 good and 100 outstanding schools, 79 schools requiring improvement (including 61 Primary schools and 15 Secondary schools) and 9 schools in a category, out of a total of 549 schools that had a current inspection result.

Looking back, in July 2014, 75% of Kent schools were good or outstanding, compared to 68% in 2013, 59% in 2012 and 55% in 2011.

We expect this positive upward trend to continue towards our ambitious target of at least 95% of Primary and 90% of Secondary schools to be judged good or outstanding in the next year or two.

All schools currently rated as inadequate and as ‘requires improvement’ are working closely with the School Improvement Team, and are supported by other schools, to ensure they achieve a rapid rate of improvement to good. We continue to aim for all children in Kent to attend at least a good school.

Ofsted Annual Report 2016

Across England, 91% of Early Years settings are good or outstanding, together with 90% of Primary schools and 78% of Secondary schools. 93% of Special schools and 86% of Pupil Referral Units are rated good or outstanding. Kent is performing above average for every sector.

Nationally, 19% of Primary schools are outstanding, 71% are good, 9% require improvement and 1% are inadequate. For Secondary schools, 22% are outstanding, 56% are good, 17% require improvement and 5% are inadequate. Special schools have the highest percentage, 38%, of outstanding provision, 55% are good, 5% require improvement and 2% are inadequate. 18% of Pupil Referral Units are outstanding, 68% are good,10% require improvement and 4% are inadequate.

Kent is mentioned in the Ofsted Annual Report as one of the local authority areas where there has been the highest percentage improvement in the number of pupils attending a good or outstanding school, from 55% in 2012 to 88% at the end of the last school year. This is one of the best improvement rates in the country, although Kent is still ranked 101 out of 152 local authority areas for Primary numbers and 63 out of 152 for Secondary numbers.

Overall we should be pleased about the rate of improvement in Kent and continue to be ambitious to achieve more so that we are among the best performing areas in the country.

Patrick Leeson, Corporate Director Education and Young People’s Services