Bottom of the class: Urgent call for action after new report on Bedford Borough’s schools

Headteachers, Bedford College bosses and MP Richard Fuller all spoke out this week after a council report showed that children of all ages are receiving an education which falls below both national targets and that received by pupils living in areas classed as Bedford’s ‘statistical neighbours’.

But Bedford Borough Council claimed that ‘encouraging improvements’ have been made to education over the past two years – at a faster rate than in similar areas.

Mr Fuller, MP for Bedford and Kempston, said: “I think it’s absolutely right for the Times & Citizen to be highlighting the serious issue of standards in borough schools.

“They are below our neighbours and are getting worse.

“There is an urgent need for a clear vision to set our schools back on track and that means for headteachers to step forward to provide the leadership that has been lacking.”

He added: “Standards are essential and we must remember that no child gets the chance to repeat years of education.”

The report will be presented to a meeting of Bedford Borough Council’s children’s services overview and scrutiny committee on Monday (February 20). It compares the council to ten other local authorities, including Milton Keynes and Northampton, which are deemed as “statistically similar” by the government.

The report shows that children in their Foundation Year in Bedford came bottom of all 11 authorities.

The performance of Year 1 and Year 2 pupils, known as Key Stage 1, also declined. Between 2009 and 2011 Bedford’s rating compared to its statistical neighbours has declined in nine out of 11 categories which cover reading, writing, maths and science.

Testing of Year 4 pupils, although not carried out by all schools, has also shown a decline. Targets were missed in seven out of nine categories covering reading, writing and maths. However the results did show an improvement compared to 2009.

At Key Stage 2, pupils were assessed in five categories that covered maths and English. Bedford Borough’s schools finished bottom in every category.

And at Key Stage 4, when the pupils are studying for their GCSEs, Bedford missed its target for the number of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and maths.

56.2 per cent of students taking their exams last summer achieved this, compared to a target of 58.7 per cent. This meant Bedford Borough schools were 8th out of 11 statistical neighbours.

Bedford Borough Council had hoped to overhaul its education system two years ago, when councillors voted to adopt a two-tier education system.

This was to be funded by government cash and would bring Bedford in line with the majority of other local authorities. Middle schools were set to be abolished, and students would only change school once, aged 11.

The plans were scrapped when key government funding was cancelled after the general election in May 2011. However some upper schools are nonetheless due to start taking pupils at age 11 instead of the current age 13, including Bedford Academy and the new Bedford Free School which will open next in September.

Mike Berrill, executive principal of Biddenham Campus Trust, said a comprehensive overhaul of Bedford Borough’s education was still needed.

He said: “The blight for Bedford is the three-tier system.

“The reason we don’t do so well is that kids from the more deprived areas of town never recover from those two changes.”

He added: “I hope that schools in Bedford can work with the local authority over the next 18 months to try and work together to create a two-tier strategy.”

Bedford Borough Council recently released a document outlining its vision for education, and members of the public are invited to submit their views up to March 12.

However, Bedford College principal Ian Pryce was extremely critical of the document and released his own report.

He said: “We believe the pattern of poor results is significantly influenced by a three-tier system that simply does not work.

“It gives upper schools insufficient time with pupils prior to GCSE choices, it discourages great staff from coming to the borough by being different from the national system operating elsewhere and it requires two changes in school when change tends to reverse pupil progress in the short term.”

David Sawyer, Bedford Borough Council portfolio holder for education, defended the council’s policy.

He said: There are areas that are doing well, such as Keys Stages 4 and 5. Other areas need improvements.

“Many local authorities, because of the government’s funding cuts, have basically closed their education departments in all but name. But Bedford Borough Council will not do that.

“We have committed to invest in school improvements. We have committed to turn around school performance at Key Stage 2.”

Mr Sawyer cited Robert Bruce Middle School, where he said the introduction of a new leadership team, including a new headteacher, had led to improvements.

He said: “We recognise that there are issues and difficulties within educational performance but we are taking action to address that.

“Clearly responsibility for poor performance does lie with schools. But as a local authority we are not prepared to walk away from that. We have ultimate responsibility and we won’t walk away from our schools.”

“He added: “I am confident that the 2012 results will be better than 2011.”

Bottom of the class? - The figures:

Foundation- Bedford Borough ranked bottom out of 11 authorities for the percentage achieving “a good level of overall achievement”.

Bedford also missed its target for narrowing the gap between the lowest 20 per cent of students.

Key Stage 1- The borough’s ranking compared to statistical neighbours has worsened in nine out of 11 categories which include reading, writing, maths and science.

Year Four- The borough fell short on seven of nine targets in reading, writing and maths. However it improved in all areas since 2009.

Key Stage 2- For all five measurements in English and maths the borough came bottom among its statistical neighbours.

In 2009 it was bottom in four categories.

In 2010 it was bottom in three categories.

Key Stage 4- Bedford missed its target for the percentage of pupils earning five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and maths.

Bedford was also below the average for the percentage of pupils earning five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, and for pupils earning five or more GCSEs at grades A* to G.