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Courier The WIGAN
Wigan’s Schools get top marks!! Forms can be collected and returned to any local NAT WEST branch in addition to the usual Hospice locations
www.wlh.org.uk/lfal
Praise for town’s standards across the board email: info@courier-online.net
WIGAN Borough’s schools have been praised by the chief inspector of Ofsted in his annual report.
The authority is ranked among the best in the country in terms of school performance and is highlighted as an example of a council where parents are “most likely” to be able to send their child to a good or outstanding school.
For the first time, local authorities have been ranked in league tables according to the performance of their primary schools. Wigan is placed in the top category. In his first annual report as chief inspector of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw singled out Wigan Council as one of the authorities with the best performing schools. It comes just weeks after he came to Wigan Borough and praised school standards. Cllr Susan Loudon, Wigan Council cabinet member for children and young people, says: “This shows the high standard of education children across Wigan Borough are receiving. I’m delighted our schools are performing so well and want to pay tribute to all the hardworking staff in our schools, and within the local authority education team, who have made this success possible. “But we have high standards and want to continue to improve our
Wigan’s Good News Paper
December 4th 2012
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Issue no 210
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schools so that all Wigan Borough children get the possible education. That’s why the local authority will continue to work with schools to make sure they are getting better and better.” Wigan MP and shadow children’s minister Lisa Nandy said: "Today's report shows what can be achieved by strong local authorities working together with excellent teachers, parents and pupils. It is a real tribute to Wigan that today's report singles it out for praise, despite the difficult financial constraints the council is working within." The Ofsted report comes at a time of unprecedented success for education in Wigan Borough. This year’s GCSE results showed the authority is the
most improved in Greater Manchester and the fourth most improved in England. At Key Stage 2, 84 per cent of children in the borough achieved Level 4+ in both English and maths. In addition, Wigan Borough now has no schools on Ofsted’s “poor” list. And Winstanley College has been named The Sunday Times Sixth Form College of the Year. Cllr Loudon says: “Parents and pupils should feel reassured that here in Wigan Borough, at every level, children have the opportunity to access excellent education provision. It should be a source of pride for all of us and something we strive relentlessly to maintain.”
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