Despite high Ofsted ratings, Northumberland pupils face troubling academic outcomes
Recent council figures show that only 56% of kids reached the expected standards in reading, writing, and math by age 11. That’s a drop from last year and below the national average.
When it comes to GCSEs, 64% of students got a Grade 4 or higher, which is slightly below the national figure. The numbers for Grade 5 or above are even lower.
Despite this, 52 out of 60 schools inspected were rated good or outstanding. That’s impressive, but it raises questions about why the outcomes aren’t better.
At a recent council meeting, Alan Hodgson, the ex-headteacher, pointed out this gap. He said, “We’re not making the progress we should be.”
He also mentioned that attendance is a big issue. Poor attendance can really drag down results. Plus, he’s worried about the number of exclusions, which have been on the rise.
A report showed a 35% jump in permanent exclusions this year. Improving attendance is now a top priority.
In response, the Director of Education, David Street, noted that Northumberland’s outcomes are similar to other areas in the North East. However, he acknowledged that places like London are doing better post-Covid.
He emphasized that they have high hopes for academic success and pointed out that some schools are performing exceptionally well.
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