Work still to be done in our schools (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Work still to be done in our schools

9:20am Thursday 14th January 2010 in Our View By Telegraph & Argus

There is no doubt that the fourth successive year of record GCSE exam results by Bradford schools is worthy of praise.

After all, if the figures had been going in the opposite direction, we would be the first to condemn them.

It must also be acknowledged that there are some excellent results among the figures, whether from previously poor performing schools turning themselves around or genuinely high-achieving establishments.

The gap between this area and the rest of the country is also narrowing, which is another step in the right direction.

But before anyone gets carried away, it is worth pointing out some less impressive figures.

There is no hiding the fact, for example, that only 41.6 per cent of pupils achieved the benchmark set by the Government of five GCSEs at A*-C grade, including in maths and English, compared to the national average of 49.8 per cent.

And while our position in the overall rankings has improved a little, the district is still only 137th out of 151.

On top of that, seven secondary schools achieved less than the 30 per cent ‘floor target’.

That picture is not so rosy.

So whatever spin is put on these results, we must not let some considerable achievements mask the fact there is still so much to do.

And it is essential to accept that if the standards of education our children deserve are ever to be delivered.