THURROCK Council’s Leader has welcomed Ofsted’s announcement that they are going to “focus” on Thurrock in the next few days.
Cllr John Kent – who also holds the education portfolio – says the government schools inspectorate plans to visit seven of the borough’s schools and ask ten “good” or better schools to complete a telephone perception survey of the local authority school improvement function.
“A year on from the council’s launch of our Education Commission, this is the logical next step,” said Cllr Kent. “I welcome their interest.”
He said: “We want all our schools to be ‘good’ or better and we are working towards that aim, but the more help and advice we get from outside experts then the quicker it will happen.
“I have no doubt Ofsted will find some issues, but I’m equally certain that they will realise that, overall, Thurrock is on an improving path, whatever some local people say, education in Thurrock is getting better.”
Cllr Kent added: “I have said before that one of the reasons Thurrock remained close to the foot of the Ofsted league table is that those below us were focused on by the inspectorate – now it’s our turn and our chance to show that the historic issues between the council and schools are no more.
“I’m sure Ofsted will recognise and acknowledge that Thurrock Council is working in partnership with all our schools towards a common aim of ensuring young people in this borough will have the skills and the qualifications needed to take on the challenges, jobs and careers that regeneration will bring in the years to come.”
