Ofsted Inspections Patrick Shevlin Head of School Standards and Improvement (Foundation Stage, Key Stages 1 and 2) May 2008

Section 5 Inspections for Bedfordshire’s schools 2005/6, 2006/7, 2007/Mar 2008

inadequatesatisfactorygoodoutstanding lowers2% 3 21% 28 60% 81 17% 23 middles10% 3 55% 17 26% 9 9% 3 uppers10% 2 36% 6 48% 8 5% 1 special011% 1 56% 5 33% 3 nursery0060% 3 40% 2 National Sep 05 /Dec 07 7%33%47%13% Bedfordshire schools’ Ofsted Inspections September 2005 – March 2008

% of Bedfordshire’s lower schools with good or Outstanding Ofsted inspections 2005/6Lower schools63% National Primary schools 58% 2006/7Lower schools79% National Primary schools 61% 2007/8Lower schools (up to Mar 08) 90% National Primary schools (Sept / Dec 08) 63%

% of Bedfordshire’s middle and upper schools with good or Outstanding Ofsted inspections 2005/6Middle and upper38% National Secondary schools 49% 2006/7Middle and upper45% National Secondary schools 51% 2007/8Middle and upper (up to Mar 08) 38% (mainly middle schools) National Secondary schools (Sept / Dec 08) 58%

Special measures and Notice to Improve Schools entering an Ofsted category of concern have decreased since Only three remain, two requiring a notice to improve (one middle and one lower) and one requiring special measures (making good progress)

Middle schools Bedfordshire middle schools achieve less well overall than schools in other phases Inspection outcomes are governed by achievement and standards which makes middle school outcomes problematic because they are judged on KS2 results and Contextual Value Added Successful schools use assessment well to track pupils’ progress – HMCI Report 2007 (Assessing Pupils’ Progress – APP)

HMCI Report 2007 – Recurrent concerns Pupils’ writing (especially boys) KS2/3 - need skills in drafting, editing and redrafting Insufficient emphasis on phonics and weaknesses in the teaching of phonics Under-emphasis on using and applying mathematics (KS1 and 2) Weak subject knowledge in non core subjects (primary) The setting on undemanding tasks which provide little opportunity for pupils to work independently (primary and secondary) Need to improve continuity between phases The quality of literacy provision in year 7 needs to improve

Issues for Governors Governance is judged as a subset of leadership and management Grades sometimes not consistent with Overall Effectiveness and is often due to governors not fulfilling their statutory duties or holding the school to account for its performance Inspection has focused recently on the Disabilities and Discrimination Act and is about to focus on Community Cohesion

Summary Issues for improvement centre on –improving middle level leadership in all schools, –tracking pupil progress, –assessment of and for learning and – raising standards in English and mathematics