LAZY JOURNALISM

Some residents may have seen a recent Yorkshire Evening Post list of schools whose children are getting below-average Key Stage 2 results, including four within this ward. The story has zero context in it and uses only one set of data to make a sweeping simplistic list.

So, let's add some context, which as a governor of three of those schools mentioned, I can.

The majority of the schools mentioned in the article have a significantly higher than normal number of pupils with English as a second language, and a high number of those children who join mid-Key Stage 1 or 2, meaning their English is significantly behind.

They also have significant churn within this group of children as people move to the area but have insecure housing and many move within a year or two, disturbing their education.

The majority of the schools mentioned have an above-average number of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), many having an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which provide extra funding to support their learning, or are in the process of having one assessed.

The schools I'm involved in, and I’m sure it is true for many of the other on the list, can demonstrate good progress for these students, a key measure for Ofsted.

So although many of these students may be below the average by the time they leave for high school, many of them are only just below average, meaning the school has helped the student make significant progress despite starting with significant disadvantages compared to other children with English as a first language or their non-SEN fellow students.

Lazy journalism like this has huge consequences on staff and student morale. It may get clicks to improve advert revenue, but at the cost of the well-being of hard-working staff, working with tight budgets, and students starting with disadvantages.

No school is perfect, and that’s why the role of a school governor is so important, as it ensures leaders in schools are pushed to improve and to ensure every child, no matter who they are, is given the best possible education.