KEEP MS JO SHUTER AT KING SOLOMON

Now what do we think about this? Who is up for it?

According to data in the Times, more free schools set up by parent, teacher or community groups have achieved good Ofsted ratings than those established by existing academy chains or that converted from independent schools…
Figures from the New Schools Network show new starters, founded from scratch by groups with no previous experience of managing schools, have been awarded more good and outstanding reports than “establishment” schools. Schools set up by parents have done particularly well, while several of those converting from independent schools have been found to require improvement.

Experts suggested that the ‘new entrant’ types of schools were more likely to adopt an innovative approach, while others said their success may be down to middle-class parents skewing their intake. The breakdown of Ofsted reports will be given to the Commons’ education select committee tomorrow at a special session on free schools…

Of the new entrant schools, more than three-fifths were rated good, and nearly three-quarters were good or outstanding. Of the establishment schools, 45 per cent were found to be good, and 65 per cent good or outstanding. While more of the establishment schools received outstanding ratings (one in five), they were also more likely to be found to require improvement – 30 per cent compared with 15 per cent of the new entrants. However, fewer of them were rated inadequate.

Poor schools set up by community, faith or parent groups included Al-Madinah School in Derby, which was branded “dysfunctional” by Ofsted, and Kings Science Academy in Bradford. But independent schools have not fared well under the free school system. While two of those that converted from fee-charging to free schools were rated good, three were found to require improvement. And of the three free schools established and sponsored by independent schools, one was rated good, and two were said to require improvement.

Some independent schools have blamed their poor ratings on the requirement to provide new and different data under the state system…