Ofsted blow for Wolverhampton schools

More than half of Wolverhampton schools which were inspected during the last academic year were rated as satisfactory or below, new Ofsted figures have revealed today.

Falling educational standards were today described as one of the biggest challenges facing the city.

A total of 27 schools were inspected last year, with 11 rated satisfactory, 11 good and only one outstanding.

Four received the bottom rating of inadequate – Palmers Cross Primary, Stow Heath Junior, Graiseley Primary and Moseley Park & Technology College.

Education bosses today said they are now "striving to make improvements".

But Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden said standards of education were a "real concern".

"We have got to raise our game," Mr McFadden said today. "These Ofsted results are a real concern.

"It's of the biggest challenges facing the city.

"Young people in Wolverhampton won't get the opportunities they deserve if schools are not up to standard."

The figures relate to nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, as well as academies.

Only Broadmeadow Special School in Lansdowne Road was seen as outstanding. Nationally, almost a third of schools were rated not good enough by Ofsted and many are failing to improve. All schools in England, 30 per cent were rated either as only satisfactory or inadequate.

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector Miriam Rosen warned that teaching in England's schools was "still too variable".