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Children's services bosses outline plans for failing schools

Children's services bosses have outlined their plans for improvement after it was recently revealed that only 57 per cent of secondary school pupils in Walsall attend good or outstanding schools.

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The figure rose to 68 per cent for pupils attending primary schools but the borough still has one of the lowest rankings out of all West Midlands authorities, according to Ofsted.

The report followed an Ofsted inspection of local authority support to schools in June this year in which the authority was rated as ineffective.

David Haley, executive director for children's services at Walsall Council, said he wanted to reassure headteachers, school staff, governors and parents.

He said decisive action was being taken to improve local schools in partnership with schools and academies to bring about the required improvement.

An improvement plan has been has been approved outlining actions to respond to the Ofsted inspection and an education challenge board was formed in August of this year following a change in administration and a new portfolio holder for children's services.

The board effectively monitors school performance across the whole borough offering challenge and support where standards fall short of government floor standards.

The plan aims to ensure strong leadership in all Walsall schools and for the council and schools to work in partnership so that information about schools' progress and improvement is up to date and useful

It also aims to help schools which are working successfully to share their knowledge and skills with those finding it harder to achieve success.

Mr Haley said: "Parents, pupils and staff can be reassured that we take our responsibility to educate and support the children of Walsall very seriously and we will continue with our plans to give every child in Walsall the very best education possible."

Bosses at the authority said improvements were already evident in some schools, including Butts Primary School which has come out of special measures and is now rated good.

A recruitment campaign for school governors is also taking place.

Children's Services boss, Councillor Barbara Cassidy added: "I was already acutely aware of the patchy situation when I took over this role in August so the details outlined in this latest report come as no surprise to me.

"It is for this reason that strenuous efforts are being made to support those struggling schools to improve both quickly and sustainably.

"A clear, comprehensive and robust improvement plan is now in place to ensure that results at all key stages, from early years up to GCSE and A level results, improve significantly, and that all schools are better placed to achieve an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding."

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