From the latest edition of Arcadia

Raising the standard

Now the challenge in this borough is to get our secondary schools up to the same level.

Richmond Council has therefore made raising standards in secondary education one of its three key priorities, pledging additional funding and greater support.

But as recent Key Stage 3 and 4 results reveal, significant improvements are already taking place.

Arcadia reporter Cristian Marcucci spoke to the new Assistant Director, School Standards, Louise Soden, who was appointed in March. A former teacher, consultant and schools inspector, she has almost 30 years of educational experience.

“Parents should have confidence in our schools because we are so ambitious,” she said. “We have the best primary schools in the country and that’s the level we want all our secondary schools to reach.

“Realising this aim is not about quick fixes. We work closely with schools, ensuring that every pupil gets the best opportunity to achieve the highest standards in every aspect of their life at school.”

The council has pledged an extra £1m over three years to fund additional developments, and this is on top of the £5m per year it plans to spend on refurbishing secondary schools.

Louise added: “The Council does not run schools. We are here to support and challenge them, making sure that the management and senior leaders have the tools they need to provide the highest quality of teaching and learning.

“Our secondary schools work extraordinarily hard. Two recent inspections by Ofsted have recognised the outstanding education provided by Waldegrave School and the good provision with outstanding features at Orleans Park.

“During a recent review of the Council, government inspectors confirmed that in terms of improving schools, we have all the right actions in place to build sustained improvement.

“Of course , it is work in progress and there will always be more to be achieved,but I am looking forward to this summer’s GCSE results when I hope that schools and pupils will find that their hard work has beenrewarded by a real improvement in results.”