Struggling pupils get extra attention

4:52pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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Education bosses are to target pupils who move from primary to secondary schools without achieving national benchmarks in English and maths.

Christine Gilbert, chief insp-ector of schools watchdog Ofsted, has said it was "unacceptable" that an average of 20 per cent of pupils moved from primary to secondary schools throughout the country last summer while not being "fully functional in literacy and numeracy", adding progress at some primary schools had "stalled".

In response, Miss Gilbert proposes to focus more on schools that are not improving, even if they are deemed satisfactory by Ofsted inspectors.

Bradford primary schools recording a significant jump in Key Stage Two test results last summer. However, some 27 per cent of 11-year-olds still failed to reach or better Government benchmark level four in maths, with a further 25 per cent failing to make the same grade in English.

However, an Education Brad-ford spokesman said bosses had this month finalised plans to work directly with schools in which pupils were failing.

Lesley Hart, Education Brad-ford's director of school improvement, said: "Our new focus for supporting and challenging schools will be on the most vulnerable children, including those who do not achieve level four and above at Key Stage Two.

"We will be working with schools to encourage more personalised learning to encourage these children to make greater gains in their learning."

An Education Bradford spokesman said experts from the private company, which helps to run the district's schools and provides support to push-up standards, had already implemented a series of measures in partnership with schools to raise attainment.

They include school improvement officers working with schools to develop Raising Attainment Plans for all pupils which outline individual attainment targets and providing literacy and numeracy consultants in selected schools to improve teaching and learning.

Bradford schools have also been encouraged to work in partnership to develop new approaches to learning to engage and motivate pupils.

Education Bradford staff are also working with primary schools throughout the district to ease pupil transition to the secondary sector. This can cause a marked dip in performance among some youngsters.

The spokesman added: "Key Stage Two results in Bradford primary schools have not stalled compared with last year - they saw a marked improvement.

"The rate of improvement at Key Stage Two in Bradford has been greater than the national rate of improvement since the start of the Education Bradford contract in 2001."

Councillor Colin Gill, Bradford Council's executive member for children and young people, said: "Pupils in Bradford made a significant improvement at Key Stage Two last year and figures showed Bradford was the fourth most improved local authority in the country.

"A great deal of work is being done to help all our pupils improve and our primary schools are focusing on the core skills - English, maths and science - to help raise standards and this has definitely paid off.

"Teachers across the district are doing a fantastic job and staff, pupils, governors and parents should be congratulated."

Miss Gilbert said she planned to introduce a more varied inspection regime to help schools move forward.