Swindon primary schools are the most improved in the country

By Jamie Hill - 27 September 2017

Education

Primary schools in Swindon are among the most improved in the country following the publication of provisional Key Stage 2 data.

Last year, 46 per cent of 11 year olds in the borough achieved the required standard in reading, writing and maths compared to the national average of 53 per cent.

The statistics, which were highlighted by Ofsted last year, were attributed to the introduction of a new writing assessment with Swindon schools interpreting government guidance very strictly. 

But the hard work of teaching staff in primary schools across the borough has resulted in a marked upturn in results. 

The latest provisional figures published by the Department for Education (DfE) show that Swindon schools are now on a par with the national average with 61 per cent of 11 year olds now reaching the required standards in reading, writing and maths. The borough’s schools have moved up 78 places in the provisional league tables for all authorities in this key measure. 

The increase in the figures has been due to the hard work of primary school staff and governors, the sharing of best practice between schools, support from education advisors and governor support staff and the fact that teachers have adjusted to the new system. 

Earlier this year, education leaders in Swindon set out their bold vision for improving educational outcomes in the town’s schools through the launch of a new strategy.

The Swindon Challenge Board aims to ensure excellence underpins all education provision in Swindon and brings together key stakeholders in education including the Regional Schools’ Commissioner, headteachers, the teaching schools, governors, local businesses and senior council leaders. Ofsted also has observer status to the board.

Improving educational opportunities and attainment forms part of Swindon Borough Council’s Priorities and Pledges, and the Council has set aside £600,000 over the next three years to help achieve the outcomes set out in the Swindon Challenge strategy with the funding being used by schools to access a range of expertise and training designed to help raise school attainment. 

Cllr Fionuala Foley, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and School Attainment, said: “Although the provisional results published by the DfE should be treated with some caution at this stage, they paint a very encouraging picture.

“We always felt our Key Stage 2 results in writing were particularly out of kilter last year due to the new national assessment and that had a major impact on our overall figure for the three performance indicators. 

“If these results are validated, it will put us back in line with the national average and will be a big tonic for our hard working primary teachers and staff. They do an incredible job and I would like to thank every one of them for continuing to give our young people the best possible start in their journey through education.”

Swindon Challenge - The borough council's education improvement strategy

  • Swindon Challenge will strive to ensure that every school in Swindon is rated by Ofsted as being ‘good’ or better by 2020, while also increasing the proportion of young people accessing Higher Education by 25 per cent.
  • Leading educational research and practice will be brought into Swindon to shape and influence leadership in schools. Stronger partnership working with national educational bodies and high performing local authorities will also be high on the Swindon Challenge agenda to improve outcomes across all Swindon secondary providers.
  • Another key target will be to ensure that Swindon’s GCSE results and Post 16 indicators at least meet national averages against national benchmarks for all pupils including those with SEND (Special Education Needs and Disability).
  • There will be an emphasis on phonics outcomes for Year 1 pupils to ensure they are at the national average or above and that reading, writing and mathematics standards are at least in line with national averages when children leave primary school at the age of 11.
  • Strong and sustainable school structures in the form of Multi Academy Trusts and School Federations will also be in place by 2020 to ensure Swindon has a self-improving education system.
  • Swindon Challenge is being launched despite a number of improvements having already been made across Swindon schools. Phonics and writing champions have been appointed to model and share good practice across Swindon primary schools and The Teaching School has run a number of courses on the effective teaching of phonics, writing and reading.
  • The National Education Trust is working with all of Swindon’s secondary schools to review the provision and outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and also for SEND pupils in the borough, and funding is being provided to some secondary schools to put teachers through the Improving Teaching and Outstanding Teacher programmes.
  • Specific funded projects are being developed with schools judged as being requires improvement or below to raise attainment.
  • Council officers, in partnership with the Regional Schools Commissioner, have also played a key role in setting up partnerships with some of Swindon’s secondary schools that are not meeting national targets.

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