Education and Schools

Ofsted inspection of the Local Education Authority 2002

Barking and Dagenham was one of the first authorities to be inspected in January 2002 under the new framework for the second round of local education authority Ofsted inspections.

The inspection had 3 aspects

An organisational inspection of the local education authority as a whole
An inspection of the Best Value Reviews relating to education
An inspection of Excellence in Cities, of which the borough has been a part since September 2000

Findings

The inspection report was published on 16 May 2002. From the outset the report notes the relative deprivation and difficult context of the borough and praises the local education authority by stating:

"Educational failure is neither expected, nor accepted as an inevitable feature of the local scene. It is one of a very small number of Local Education Authorities who have shown that it is possible to counter the effects of disadvantage."

The former Director of Education, Arts and Libraries, Alan Larbalestier, commented:

"It was a very intensive inspection and we are very pleased that our many strengths have been recognised by Ofsted. While there are some weaknesses, we had already identified these and improvements had begun."

In response to the report's suggestion that the local education authority may fall short of new statutory requirements for September 2002, Mr Larbalestier said:

"Since the inspection at the beginning of the year, plans are now in place and we will meet the Autumn requirements for 25 hours supported education for excluded pupils."

Addressing weaknesses

The Ofsted inspection team noted the local education authority's clear 'capacity to address its weaknesses' and the Director commented:

"It is particularly encouraging that Ofsted is confident in the council's ability to continue to improve."

The Director went on to thank all the staff for their contributions to the high quality of service being delivered to the community. Ofsted noted, 'The balance of strengths and weaknesses is overwhelmingly positive. Its current performance offers an example of what can be achieved, given the resolution.'

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Charles Fairbrass MBE was pleased with the recognition of the 'high order' of leadership from elected members as well as from senior council officers and that the report acknowledges the members 'unswerving pledge to education.'

Councillor Fairbrass MBE commented: