This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 15 September 2008:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
Inspectors have made a judgement about schools' overall effectiveness since January 2000. Under the previous school inspection framework (commonly known as Section 10), this judgment was made using a seven point scale: excellent, very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, poor and very poor. Since September 2005, the judgment has been made under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as Section 5) using a four point scale: outstanding, good, satisfactory and inadequate. This response relates to each school's most recent inspection.
It is not possible to operate a simple read-across approach from a seven- to a four-point scale and so simple comparisons are not possible. Ofsted's criteria for making inspection judgements about schools are clearly set out in our inspection guidance.
As of 11 September 2008, there were 2,305 maintained schools in Yorkshire and the Humber. Of these, 2,275 schools have been inspected under the current or previous inspection frameworks. The remaining 30 schools have recently opened and are yet to have an inspection. Schools that have closed since their last inspection have been excluded from the analysis.
Table 1 shows the latest overall effectiveness grade of those maintained schools in Yorkshire and the Humber that have had an inspection under the current inspection framework, introduced in September 2005.
Table 2 shows the latest overall effectiveness grade of those maintained schools in Yorkshire and the Humber where their most recent inspection was under the previous inspection framework.
Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate Total Number of inspections 295 1,085 776 54 2,210 Percentage of inspections 13 49 35 2 100 Note: Percentages are rounded and may not add to 100.
Excellent Very good Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Poor Very Poor Total Number of inspections 2 9 33 21 0 0 0 65 Percentage of inspections 3 14 51 32 0 0 0 100 Note: Percentages are rounded and may not add to 100
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.
A list of schools where, according to 2007 results, fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils achieve five GCSEs or equivalent at grade A* to C including English and Maths has already been placed in the Library. Validated 2008 GCSE results will be available in January 2009. Officials from my Department are working with local authorities to identify what action is needed to ensure all schools rise above the threshold by 2011.