Advertisement

Schools Failing Brightest Pupils, Ofsted Warns

Bright secondary pupils in England are continuing to be let down by their schools, an education watchdog has warned.

In a damning report, Ofsted inspectors said they found "too much complacency" in non-selective state schools, with the cleverest students not being pushed to achieve their full potential.

This was in contrast to their counterparts at grammar or private schools.

The most able youngsters were left "treading water", while there had been "disappointing" progress in tackling previously identified problems of low expectations, unchallenging work and classroom disruption, found the report.

Inspectors pointed to exam results where promising academic achievement at primary school was not matched at GCSE level in English and maths.

The report said: "Our most able students in non-selective schools are still not being challenged to achieve the highest levels of scholarship."

It added: "Not only did many of the most able students spoken to during this survey say they felt unchallenged by the teaching they received, they often said that low-level disruptive behaviour from other pupils affected their learning."

The critical report also found bright students, particularly from poorer backgrounds, were not getting appropriate advice in planning their futures.

Inspectors said it was "worrying" in four of the schools visited the most able students were not being encouraged to apply to top universities.

Sean Harford, Ofsted's national director of schools, said: "This report has focused particularly on those identified as the most able.

"While inspectors found pockets of excellence, too many of these children are not being challenged sufficiently - and thousands of highly-performing primary pupils are not realising their early promise when they move to secondary school."

"I hope school leaders see this report as a call to action - and raise the bar higher for their most able pupils, so that they can reach their full potential."

Ofsted's report was based on visits to 40 non-selective secondaries and 10 primaries, as well as surveys and interviews.

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "The secondary sector has been subject to massive structural change over the past few years.

"It's neither sensible nor accurate to accuse secondary schools of failure. The system itself is getting in the way of success."

A Department for Education spokesman said: "Our plan for education is designed to shine a bright light on schools which are coasting, or letting the best and brightest fall by the wayside."