THERE was a time when York primary schools regularly outstripped national performance averages, especially those in London. But these days the tables have turned.
Janet Looker, City of York Council’s cabinet member for education, reckons complacency could be partly to blame for achievement rates flatlining, but she says there is another reason.
In 2003 London Challenge was launched with the aim of ensuring every child in the capital received an education with an Ofsted rating of good or better.
It worked. Now London has the highest proportion of good or outstanding schools in England, even in its deprived boroughs.
Hopefully complacency isn’t to blame in York, because a child’s early education is paramount and teachers must ensure their charges receive the best schooling available.
Which is why we agree with Coun Looker that a York Challenge should be introduced to raise aspirations in our schools. This city used to sit above national statistics in primary SATs scores. It is high time for it to do so again.
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