Press Release

PAT WELCOMES OFSTED REPORT

22 November 2006

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) has welcomed Ofsted’s Annual Report published today (22 November 2006).

PAT General Secretary Philip Parkin said: “There has been an over-emphasis in some media reports on the negative – the one-in-ten ‘unsatisfactory’ secondary schools. That statistic also means that nine-out-of-ten schools inspected are doing much better: ‘six-in-ten’ were judged ‘good or outstanding’. 

“It seems that the increase in the ‘unsatisfactory’ figure is largely due to Ofsted ‘raising the bar’ on the performance it expects from schools.

“There is much to be celebrated in this report.   It shows that standards are ‘good or outstanding in nearly 60% of schools’.  Over half of childcare and early education settings are ‘good or outstanding’, while a ‘very large majority’ previously judged inadequate have ‘made significant improvement’.   

“The quality of initial teacher training was also judged to have ‘improved’ and be ‘generally good’.  Significant improvements were also found in further education and six form colleges.

“I believe the vast majority of teachers and support staff are doing an excellent job in sometimes difficult circumstances and are working very hard to raise standards. They deserve to be congratulated on their achievements.

"In particular, it is essential that we recognise the commitment demonstrated by schools to the five outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda. Schools are embracing extended provision and taking account of the needs of pupils, parents and their local communities.

"Where improvements need to be made, there must be investment of time and resources to help schools improve.”