Mayor Hails Local Schools' Excellent Showing in Ofsted Annual Report

Mayor Dave Hodgson has praised the work of local schools in driving up and maintaining high standards, following Ofsted's ranking of the Bedford Borough local authority area as the second best place in the country for a child to attend lower or primary school. Since the figures were compiled, a further school has moved into Ofsted's good or outstanding categories, meaning Bedford Borough would rank joint first in the national table, based on the proportion of children attending a good or outstanding school. Currently, an extraordinary 97% of children attend a good or outstanding primary or lower school.

This has increased from the figure at the time of last year's Ofsted Annual Report of 85%, which itself placed Bedford as the best local authority area across the eastern region for lower/primary schools and very firmly amongst the best in the country.

The news follows the sharp rise in GCSE attainment this summer, in contrast to the national trend of decline, and comes amidst the Council's ongoing major programme of investment in new and improved school facilities under Mayor Dave.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "This is richly deserved recognition for the work going on in schools across Bedford Borough week-in, week-out to achieve and maintain high standards on behalf of local children. Congratulations are due to all the teachers, staff, pupils, governors and everyone who is working in this crucial ongoing task. Alongside other positive developments such as the brand new schools and upgraded facilities we are investing in and this year's sharp increase in the GCSE attainment figures in defiance of the national trend, it is clear that these are exciting times for education in Bedford Borough."