Southampton bucking the trend with more primaries and secondaries than ever rated good or outstanding

For the first time since tables were compiled Southampton is now ranked above neighbouring Hampshire when it comes to the number of children who attend either good or outstanding schools.

According to schools watchdog Ofsted some 84 per cent of pupils go to primary schools that are ranked in the top two categories in Southampton compared to 82 per cent of pupils in Hampshire.

It puts Southampton top of the pile in the south east table while nationally they are now ranked 60th when comparing primary education.

Hampshire is placed 74th.

Beechwood Junior School pupils celebrate

Major coup In secondary school education both authorities are ranked 77th in the national tables with both recording 75 per cent of pupils who go to good or outstanding secondary schools.

For Southampton that marks a ten percentage point increase on last year’s figures.

That figure is being seen as a major coup for the city as across the country the progress of secondary schools was described as “stagnating” compared to the improvement in primary education.

South east Ofsted inspector Mike Sheridan told the Daily Echo: “Southampton is very much bucking the national trend there and that is something to be celebrated.”

He also drew attention to the fact the city was closing the gap between the achievement of pupils who come from poorer backgrounds and therefore eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) and those pupils who do not.

Mr Sheridan said: “This is becoming a key marker for schools to demonstrate how they ensure pupils from all backgrounds are achieving.

That starts from quality teaching they get from the moment they start school.”

Cllr Dan Jeffery

All that is welcome news for the city’s education chief Cllr Dan Jeffery who said he was delighted that the city was continuing to improve.

He said: “I think the key to most of this success is down to good collaboration between our schools. I think all leaders in education in the city understand that having any schools that are failing and in difficulty is of no benefit to the children and future of the city.

“Competition has made way for collaboration and as an authority it has been our job to make sure we are sharing all of that expertise and good practice.”

In the primary sector there was also cause for celebration with a high proportion of good and outstanding schools coupled with impressive Key Stage Two results – the tests taken at the end of primary school education.

Sue Rees is head teacher at Beechwood Junior School, where pupils recorded an almost perfect set of results in last year’s tests.

She said: “We are very proud of our results from this last year, which is testament to the hard work of the whole staff and pupils.

“We are very proud of our children and generally in Southampton it is so good to see such improvement and achievement.”

Across the border in Hampshire figures saw a slight drop in the number of primary and secondary schools ranked as good or outstanding.

However, the authority was singled out for praise for the support it gives to schools.

Councillor Peter Edgar, executive member for education, said: “In the Hampshire County Council administrative area there are 533 schools, including special schools and education centres.

“Of these 47 are academy schools and therefore, independent of this local authority.“ We acknowledge that there has been a slight percentage drop of secondary schools rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted.

“This drop is a matter of concern but needs to be seen in the context of this remaining a high performing schools system in the county with good and improving GCSE results and very high standards in primary schools.

“I am especially pleased that the Ofsted annual report highlighted Hampshire for our ‘excellent challenge, support and intervention’ to our schools.”

Isle of Wight as an education authority remained firmly at the wrong end of the tables sitting rock bottom when comparing the number of secondary schools that were ranked as good or outstanding.

Only 17 per cent of the schools on the island are ranked in the top two Ofsted categories.

Case study: Regents Park Community College

THE rate of improvement in Southampton’s secondary schools is epitomised by the rapid turnaround in the fortunes of Regents Park Community College.

As reported by the Daily Echo last month the school was ranked as inadequate by inspectors last year and put into special measures, leading to the departure of the head teacher and chairman of governors.

But in little over a year the school is not only out of the bottom rank but has leapfrogged into being rated a “good” school.

After the damning report in 2013 a swift change of leadership and support from Bitterne Park School led to a successful rise from being a failing school into one of the best in the city.

How did your school do? Check out the school league tables.