Private faith schools show ‘sharp decline’ in standards

THERE has been a “sharp decline” in standards at private faith schools, Ofsted has found, as nearly half are now judged to be inadequate or requiring improvement.

An analysis by the schools inspectorate said that a “higher proportion” of faith schools are failing to meet the standards for leadership and management, as well as teaching children “fundamental British values”.

The latest figures show that 49per cent of private faith schools inspected by Ofsted were judged as being less than good, including a quarter (26 per cent) that were given the lowest possible rating of inadequate. The schools watchdog said there had been a sharp decline in standards for all smaller, feepaying schools, but added that this was particularly apparent in faith schools.

The details were released as part of Ofsted’s report of inspections of non-association independent schools, which tend to be smaller, fee-paying schools that are not part of groups affiliated to the Independent Schools Council. Ofsted now inspects Christian and Muslim schools which were previously reviewed by the Bridge Schools Inspectorate (BSI) which shut down in 2015.