LAST month, Thurrock Council Leader and education portfolio holder Cllr John Kent said he wished Ofsted would come in and inspect our schools more regularly – “today is exactly why”, he said on Tuesday.
He was speaking after Ofsted’s annual report acknowledged Thurrock’s secondary schools are working above the national average – second in the region.
Cllr Kent said: “We have to admit our primary schools are not where we would want them to be, but none of our primaries have been inspected this term and I am confident that had four or five of the ‘requiring improvement’ primaries seen inspectors in recent weeks things would have been far better.
“Remember, one school improving its Ofsted rating is almost a three per cent improvement overall.”
At the Cabinet meeting on 11 November, Cllr Kent said: “Our schools are continuing to improve; more primaries secure positive Ofsted recognition month on month – in fact I wish Ofsted would come in and inspect our schools more regularly to speed that process.”
This week he added: “I understand Ofsted – like all public bodies in the country – has funding and resource issues but for the sake of the primary schools who are positively wanting that phone call, I can only sympathise.
“But we know we’re on track. Remember back in 2010 only a third of our schools were classed as good or outstanding, now the figure is over two thirds and we’re well on the way to our aim of getting all of them in the top two classifications.”
And Cllr Kent said: “It’s particularly pleasing Ofsted recognised our work in the early years is in the top quarter nationally and that Treetops is recognised as one of the east of England’s outstanding education and skills providers.”
