“Another set of outstanding results” - Southwark schools continue to outperform the national average

20 December 2019

Southwark’s annual school standards report highlights the continued strong performance of schools in the borough and is a credit to the strong relationship between our head teachers, governors and the local authority.

Schools in Southwark consistently perform well-above the national benchmarks and there has been an increase in the number of schools judged as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

Presented to Cabinet on 17 December 2019, the report revealed that 93 per cent of Southwark schools reached the standard of ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’. This is the highest percentage that Southwark has seen, putting us 6 per cent above the national average.

In early years provision, we remain in the top quartile for key measures in children showing a good level of development.

Pupils in Key Stage 1 perform above national averages in reading, writing, mathematics and science. Southwark schools maintained a 4 per cent lead over the national average in for reading and writing and a 2 per cent lead in mathematics.

At Key Stage 2 'expected standard’ performance has  been above the national average in all subjects for three years.

Southwark Students are also continuing to excel under the new GCSE examinations system. Overall, results were 1.7 per cent better than performance nationally.

Similarly, 79.6 per cent of A-Level exam entries were awarded A* - C grades, with 26.7 per cent of students achieving the top A*-A grades.  This is the fourth year Southwark has been above the national average.

Cllr Jasmine Ali, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Adult Care said: “Southwark pupils are doing brilliantly compared to pupils in boroughs with much greater social advantage and I could not be more proud. We want all pupils to get the start that they need to meet their dreams, whichever path they choose. By the time pupils get to GCSE and A Levels, the opportunities and experience they encounter at secondary school culminate in good results, opening greater opportunities for young people to decide their next steps in life.

This year this council has also prioritised children’s well being, putting £2m into schools’ mental health prevention. This includes leading a mentally healthy schools programme with targeted grants to schools from the new fund, to support engagement with pupils and service provision where young people are.”

Page last updated: 20 December 2019