Thirty-four Birmingham schools have been among the first to be inspected under Ofsted’s new regime – which has seen almost twice the number of schools nationally judged as inadequate.
Altogether, 26 Birmingham primary schools were inspected between September and December last year, while eight secondary schools were scrutinised in the same period.
Of the eight secondary schools visited by inspectors, only Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School in Acocks Green and Saltley School, Saltley. had an overall rating of good, the rest were marked as satisfactory.
None of the city schools received an overall marking of outstanding.
Under the revised grading scheme, two primary schools were rated as inadequate; Shaw Hill Primary School in Alum Rock, which was placed in special measures and Ladypool Primary School in Sparkbrook, which was given a notice to improve. The total of Birmingham primary schools now subject to special measures has risen to nine, up from seven in December 2008.
Nationally, Oftsted’s latest figures show there were 2,140 inspections carried out during the autumn term last year of these, half were found to be either satisfactory or inadequate. And 102 schools – 4.8 per cent – were placed in special measures, with 116 given a notice to improve – 5.4 per cent of all inspections.
The statistics show a significant rise in the number of schools made subject to special measures and being issued a notice to improve in autumn of 2008.
The new form of examining schools began six months ago and has already received fierce criticism from some headteachers and teachers unions, reacting against the national statistics which also showed the proportion rated outstanding has more than halved.
The criteria of inspection has changed making comparisons difficult between Ofsted results from past years.
Great Barr School in Great Barr was one of those issued a notice to improve during a previous inspection. During a re-inspection under the new regime it had improved, and was rated as satisfactory.
Headteacher Kate Abbott said: “It has certainly become more difficult to attain a good or outstanding rating in an Ofsted inspection. Our recent inspection was a generally good experience for the school. We had the opportunity to have a productive dialogue with the inspection team. Our recent inspection was a generally good experience for the school. The new element of the process we welcome most is the opportunity to attend the feedback sessions between the lead inspector and his team.
Teachers’ unions attacked Ofsted for “moving the goalposts” as the number of schools branded inadequate more than doubled.
Schools chief inspector Christine Gilbert said the new framework was “raising expectations” while Chris Keates, of NASUWT, said the results were “misleading”.
