Education wins in Bucks but work still to do

Bucks County Council will discuss the education standards report at their meeting on Monday.

The report says that while the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed by three percentage points from last year, the gap is still too wide.

It says that a key area of focus for the authority must be to ensure that all pupils in Buckinghamshire received a good or outstanding education, regardless of whether they go to a selective or non-selective school.

Zahir Mohammed, cabinet member for education at Bucks County Council, said: “The attainment gap has improved and has narrowed by 3% with an increased percentage of disadvantage children now achieving 5+A*-C including English and mathematics.

“This is in the context of the national picture where the attainment gap has actually widened instead.

“Work is and has been ongoing to support schools such as projects with the BLT and schools improving their Ofsted category so that all children can have better opportunities to reach their potential.”

The report also found that the percentage of children in the county attending a good or outstanding school is increasing; this year it sits at one percentage point over the national average.

Mr Mohammed added: “The standards reports shows an improving picture with an increasing number of children attending Good or Outstanding schools in Buckinghamshire, and fewer attending inadequate schools.

“This picture is improving compared to both last year and compared with schools nationally, and it means that more children now have better chances academically.”

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