Based on the latest inspection outcomes for all secondary schools, the statistics show that:
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22 per cent are judged outstanding.
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49 per cent are judged good.
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23 per cent are judged “requires improvement”
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Six per cent are judged “inadequate”.
The figures have been updated to include the outcomes from the most recent inspection period – April to June 2014. During these three months, Ofsted carried out 214 inspections of secondary schools, with the results showing:
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12 per cent were judged outstanding.
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42 per cent were judged good.
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38 per cent were judged requires improvement.
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Eight per cent were judged inadequate.
The marked difference between the overall figures and those for the period is explained because Section 5 inspections are generally focused on poorer performing schools.
For all types of schools, 20 per cent are now judged as outstanding and 61 per cent good. A further 17 per cent require improvement and three per cent are inadequate.
Elsewhere, by June 30 Ofsted had conducted 70 inspections of the new free schools. Sixteen of these were judged outstanding, 31 good, 19 as requires improvement and four were inadequate. There are 97 free schools open but not yet inspected.
Other figures show that the proportion of secondary academies judged good or outstanding has fallen from 80 to 77 per cent since August 2013. However, at the same time the number of secondary academies has increased with 54 per cent of secondaries now holding academy status – a rise of four per cent in the same period.
Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the figures were “clear evidence that England’s education system is on solid ground and improving”.
He added: “Let us congratulate the leaders and teachers in these schools who have worked so hard to achieve these very good results. Ofsted has played a part in helping England’s schools to reach this strong level of performance. Now is the time to reassess the purpose of inspection and move to a leaner and more fit-for-purpose inspectorate.”