Bristol schools no longer need government intervention

Bristol’s state schools are no longer in need of ‘formal intervention’ according to the government.

The local authority moved up 11 rankings with children leaving primary school at key stage 2 with the city’s best ever results.

Headteacher at St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School and chair of Bristol’s primary headteachers association Jackie Mccarthy said:  “This is a strong measure of increasing confidence in what schools are delivering.  All primary schools have made positive steps and we will continue to work in partnership to ensure this continues.”

The poor academic rate in secondary education has now improved with 40 per cent of school leavers achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including maths and English.

Government ministers wrote to the council earlier in the April term recognising the progress the city has made in children’s services and acknowledging the plans to further improve results at all levels.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Councillor Clare Campion-Smith said: “Bristol schools have proved that they can deliver the improvements necessary to achieve good quality learning and attainment.

“The government now agrees that there is good evidence of continued progress but there is still plenty to do to raise achievement and narrow educational gaps such as between boys and girls and in some black and minority ethnic communities.”