This is a matter for Ofsted. Her Majesty’s chief inspector of schools, Christine Gilbert, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 14 January 2008:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, for a response.
Ofsted has inspected 18 schools in Hendon constituency in the last 12 months from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007. The grades and the date on which they were inspected are shown in the table below.
URN Inspection date Grade School name 134798 26 February 2007 2 good London Academy 101336 27 February 2007 2 good St. Joseph’s RC Infant School 101355 14 March 2007 3 satisfactory Dollis Junior School 101326 21 March 2007 2 good St. Paul’s CofE Primary School 130935 21 March 2007 3 satisfactory The Hyde School 101359 25 April 2007 2 good Mill Hill County High School 103119 15 May 2007 2 good St. Mary’s and St. John’s CE Primary School 101364 17 May 2007 2 good St. James’ Catholic High School 101258 22 May 2007 1 outstanding Barnfield Primary School 101357 24 May 2007 2 good Hendon School 101395 14 June 2007 1 outstanding Northway School 101376 28 June 2007 1 outstanding Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Jewish Primary School 101339 3 July 2007 2 good Blessed Dominic RC School 133749 11 September 2007 2 good Northgate School 101274 14 November 2007 1 outstanding Deansbrook Infant School 101342 29 November 2007 1 outstanding The Annunciation RC Junior School 101275 10 December 2007 3 satisfactory Dollis Infant School 101343 11 December 2007 1 outstanding Independent Jewish Day School
Ofsted has four categories for grading school inspection: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate. Grade 1 is exceptionally and consistently high, grade 2 is generally above average with no criteria significantly below average, grade 3 is broadly average, and grade 4 is exceptionally low. Grade 4 schools can either be placed in ‘special measures’ or be given a ‘notice to improve’.
A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners and will be placed in the library of both Houses.