North-South divide reaches our schools

OLDHAM has been named and shamed by the chief inspector of schools for its poor secondary schools.

Ofsted head Sir Michael Wilshaw says Oldham is one of 16 places in England where fewer than 60 per cent of children attend good or outstanding high schools, have lower than national GCSE attainment and make less than national levels of expected progress.

All but three of the 16 are in the North and Midlands - which Sir Michael warns in his annual report is “deeply troubling” and suggests “nothing short of a divided nation”.

Only 35 per cent of Oldham pupils attend a “good” or “outstanding” secondary, the fourth-worst figure in the country.

Blue Coat, Crompton House, North Chadderton and Saddleworth are the only high schools in the borough currently classed as good or outstanding. Of the remainder, three are bottom-grade “inadequate” and five “require improvement”.

But 86 per cent of primary schools pupils attend good or outstanding primaries, ranking Oldham 77 out of 150 local authorities.

Councillor Shoab Akhtar, Oldham Council’s cabinet member for education and skills, said: “Oldham Council shares Sir Michael Wilshaw’s concerns about secondary schools in the north, and recognises the situation in Oldham as an example of the picture he is describing.

The council also welcomes his call for greater collaboration between schools in the region and we’re actively working for that within Greater Manchester together with local outstanding schools.

“We’re confident that many of our schools are improving their standards this school year — with many awaiting inspections.”