Schools in region ‘still lagging behind’
CHILDREN IN Yorkshire are being “denied a good start in life” as schools in the region are still behind the national average, Ofsted’s annual report reveals.
Primary and secondary schools in some of county’s worstaffected areas for child poverty are far behind similar schools elsewhere in England, a finding which MP Naz Shah has called “a tragedy”.
Education watchdog Ofsted released its findings for schools, nurseries and children’s services across the region yesterday.
Results revealed that while schools in Yorkshire and the Humber had generally improved over the last year, the figure for those rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ was still behind the national average, and that schools in the region’s poorest towns and cities were the furthest behind.
Some 82 per cent of the region’s schools were given either of the top two ratings, which fell a step behind England’s figure of 87 per cent.
Both primary and secondary institutions in Bradford were outlined as falling behind similar schools across the rest of the country, while Doncaster primary schools and Barnsley secondary schools also lagged behind. Though Bradford schools have
generally improved, the city’s MP’s have blamed austerity and cuts for “limiting children’s opportunities in life”. Around half of children in Bradford East and West were living in relative poverty, according to Government data released last year.
Naz Shah, MP for Bradford West where around 47 per cent of children are in relative poverty, said: “Years of austerity have left Bradford worst affected by child poverty. It is a tragedy that those who already face adverse effects from austerity and poverty also have their opportunities in life limited due to failing schools.”
Bradford City Council has reiterated that schools, in general, have improved, and that authorities are working hard to bring education services in line with the rest of the region.
Meanwhile, between 34 and 37 per cent of young people in the Doncaster Central, Doncaster North and Barnsley East constituencies were also classified as living in poverty last year.
A Doncaster Council spokeswoman said despite “significant improvements” since 2017 in reading, maths and writing, it acknowledged there was “still much to do”.
Barnsley ranked bottom of the list for the region’s secondary schools, with less than half (40 per cent) rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.
Despite this however, children in Barnsley ranked higher than the Yorkshire average for reading and maths skills.
Coun Margaret Bruff, cabinet spokesperson for Barnsley Council’s Children’s Services, said: “We support and challenge all schools in Barnsley to help them achieve ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ ratings.”
Ofsted’s Regional Director for Yorkshire & the Humber, Emma Ing, said the disappointing numbers meant children were “being denied a good start in life”.