Poor children's GCSE grades 'unacceptable'
Comments |
by political editor Paul Francis
Kent schools need to do more to improve the prospects of
pupils from poorer backgrounds, according to the county’s education
chief.
Patrick Leeson, the council’s education director, has told
county councillors it was "extremely unacceptable" that in
secondary school exams, pupils on free school meals - taken as an
indicator of disadvantage - were half as likely to get five good
GCSEs.
He also said there was "significant under-achievement and
under-performance among some schools in Kent".
Mr Leeson said one of the key issues facing the authority
was how to close the gap between those poorer backgrounds who
appeared to fare less well at school.
Academy talks
Seven primary schools could be forced to become academies by the government because of poor standards.
KCC said the seven, which have not been identified, could be compelled to convert to academy status this year under the government’s policy.
Discussions between KCC and Department for Education officials about the seven have taken place.
KCC education director Patrick Leeson said not all schools considered to be under-performing would be converted. Some could be linked through a federation with another school.
He said: "Pupils on free school meals do less well than
elsewhere. There is less social mobility achieved through the
education system in Kent than elsewhere.
"Some 28% of pupils on free school meals get five good
GCSEs compared to the average of 59%. That is an extremely
unacceptable gap in outcome.
"If we could close that gap then we would make a
difference and our overall results would go up significantly. That
is one of the key issues we are concentrating on."
The education authority has set up the Kent Challenge, a
scheme in which schools considered to be not performing as well
they could, are being offered targeted support.
Mr Leeson said he was optimistic efforts to drive up
standards was accelerating the rate of improvement.
At the same time, he warned a number of schools that had
been inspected by Ofsted since October had been downgraded from
'good' to 'satisfactory'.
"That is not a helpful trend," he said. "We have rather
more schools in that category than we would want or
expect."
However, there was "very good intervention and support"
for schools that were at risk of being failed and by the end of the
year, no more than five schools would be in special measures or
under a notice to improve.
The government is due to publish the latest secondary
school league tables next Thursday.
It has set a new target for secondary schools to achieve
in 2012, saying 40% of pupils should get five or more good GCSEs.
By 2015, it says that should rise to 50%.
Wednesday, January 18 2012
The KM Group does not moderate comments.
Please click here for our house rules.