To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms his Department uses to assess the overall quality of school provision in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement. (263459)

Ofsted assesses the overall quality of school provision at local authority area level. Until 2008 it has done this within an annual performance assessment (APA) of children’s services for each local authority, which includes a judgment on services for enjoying and achieving. From April 2009, APAs will be replaced by the new comprehensive area assessment (CAA), which will assess overall public services at local authority level. Ofsted will produce an annual rating for local authority children’s services. This rating, drawing on inspection judgments and performance data on schools in the area, as well as on evidence on other local authority children’s services, will be included in the CAA report.