More schools make the grade

THE percentage of Oldham schools rated “good” or “outstanding” by government regulator Ofsted has gone up.

Seventy seven per cent of local schoools are now judged in those categories, against 76 per cent last year.

The figures are included in the Ofsted annual report by Sir Michael Wilshaw, the chief inspector of schools.

Nationally 78 per cent of English schools are good or outstanding - up from under 70 per cent last year. This means over 600,000 more pupils than a year ago started the new term in a school rated at least good - the most rapid rate of improvement in Ofsted’s 21-year history.

In the North-West, Trafford leads the way with 91 per cent of its schools making the grade. Salford and Tameside are at the bottom with 71 per cent.