Harrow schools among best in country but council say they won't get complacent

A report presented to Harrow Council cabinet showed improvements have been made across all stages of education at the 59 state funded schools in the borough for the past three academic years.

It said: "The above average performance of schools in Harrow has been sustained over an extended period, showing positive trends across all phases of schooling.

"As a result, schools in Harrow remain amongst the best performing in the country."

Presenting the report, Cllr Simon Brown, cabinet member responsible for schools, said standards continue to rise at Early Years Foundation level, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

But he said the council would not get complacent.

Cllr Brown said: "These are excellent performance standards throughout schools and throughout all stages.

"Our Ofsted results are also very good with 92 per cent of school obtaining Good or Outstanding.

"I would like to congratulate all involved."

He continued: "But we will not get complacent. There are areas that we are underperforming in.

"We want to give everyone a fair opportunity of an excellent education here in Harrow."

The report identified underachieving groups of pupils who do not do as well as their peers.

These included black pupils at Key State 2 and Key Stage 4, pupils with special educational needs, pupils eligible for free school meals and those whose first language is not English.

There are also four state funded schools in the borough that are rated by Ofsted as Requires Improvement.

The Harrow School Improvement Partnership Advisors are currently working with those schools to ensure they reach the minimum acceptable standard for a Good rating as soon as possible.

Cllr Brown said the council will work to continue improving on the high educational standards in the borough and focus on closing the gap between the average standards met by children in Harrow and peer groups who are underachieving.