Industry News
Rise in failing schools
Posted on 28th September 2007
The number of schools deemed to be failing children has risen by 18 per cent, new information published by Ofsted shows.
Government ministers report the increase is as a result of shorter inspections which allowed a greater number of schools to be inspected.
Inspections now last for around two days and can be carried out at short notice.
Schools minister Lord Adonis said there had been an "unrelenting focus on raising standards" and that the number of schools failing had halved over the last ten years.
"Parents expect us to take an uncompromising approach to schools that are underperforming," he added.
Nick Gibb, shadow children's minister told the Guardian the new inspections were picking up previously unnoticed failure and welcomed the results, saying in the long run they would create higher standards.
The statistics showed that the number of schools requiring "significant improvement" had fallen and only 306 schools had been given "notice to improve" compared to 312 12 months previously.
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