Top marks for Royal Borough schools

Royal Borough schools are top of the class in the South East following recent Ofsted inspections.

More than three quarters of borough schools inspected between September 2009 and March this year in the first round of Ofsted's new inspection framework have jointly been rated as either outstanding or good.

Of 13 borough schools inspected 23% were rated outstanding, 54% as good and 23% satisfactory. The Royal Borough was one of only three local authorities of the 20 inspected across the south East to have no schools in the "inadequate" category.

The Royal Borough's combined ratings put it ahead of not only the other five Berkshire unitary authorities but also authorities in Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

A total of 632 schools were inspected in the first six months of the rigorous new three-year programme of inspection.

Cllr Eileen Quick, lead member for children's services, said: "I am absolutely delighted with these results from Ofsted.

"The 13 borough schools which have already been inspected have certainly set the standard for the rest of our schools to follow in the coming three years as the new Ofsted inspection programme is rolled out.

"Their successful ratings are a wonderful achievement and certainly reflect our aspiration that all our schools should aim to be at least good if not outstanding. Keep up the good work everyone."

Schools were ranked on a number of criteria including:
• overall effectiveness
• capacity for sustained improvement
• outcomes for pupils
• quality of teaching
• effectiveness of leadership and management
• the views of parents and carers.

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