UK & World News
The latest UK & World news stories from the Press Association.
School rating 'to make heads focus'
09:05, Feb 9 2012
The head of Ofsted has said that scrapping the "satisfactory" rating given to schools during inspections would help "focus" the minds of head teachers.
Under new grading guidelines being implemented by Sir Michael Wilshaw, the rating will be replaced by a rating of "requires improvement" in a bid to improve teaching.
The education watchdog's chief inspector said schools will then be given between 18 months and three years to improve or face being placed under special measures.
The Ofsted head, who will deliver his first keynote address since taking up the post, told ITV's Daybreak: "Satisfactory is not good enough and has been recognised so for a long time.
"Children just have one chance in school, they don't have more than one chance, and if we let our children down over the 10 years they are in primary and secondary school that is not good.
"They don't achieve the qualifications and the success they need to achieve."
It is also understood that a quarter of schools given an overall "outstanding" rating by Ofsted will have their status reviewed under the new grading system, while schools will also face "no-notice" inspections.
Mr Wilshaw said he hoped the new measures would "focus head teachers' minds and also governors" on the improvements that need to be made at schools.
Pair set for child cruelty sentence 16:05, May 21 2012
A mother and stepfather who forced their 11-year-old son to live in a filthy converted coal-bunker have been put behind bars. more
Bomber kills 90 at military drill 15:05, May 21 2012
At least 90 soldiers were killed and dozens of others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a military parade drill in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. more
Mandelson denies deal with Murdoch 15:05, May 21 2012
Lord Mandelson has denied there was any deal between Labour and Rupert Murdoch's newspaper empire ahead of the 1997 general election. more
MacAskill defends Megrahi release 15:05, May 21 2012
Scotland's Justice Secretary has defended his decision to release the Lockerbie bomber almost three years ago as the only man convicted of the tragedy is buried in Libya today. more
Bomber kills 60 at military drill 14:05, May 21 2012
At least 60 soldiers were killed and dozens of others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a military parade drill in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. more
Olympic flame goes out during relay 13:05, May 21 2012
The Olympic torch went out for the first time during the London 2012 relay, organisers have confirmed. more
Missing children website relaunched 13:05, May 21 2012
An official website to help find missing and abducted children from the UK has been relaunched by the police's specialist child protection agency. more
Watchdog launches Hunt inquiry 13:05, May 21 2012
Westminster's sleaze watchdog has launched an inquiry into Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt following claims that he failed to register donations from media firms, it was revealed. more
38 soldiers killed in Yemen attack 12:05, May 21 2012
At least 38 soldiers were killed and dozens of others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a military parade drill in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. more
Miliband attacks social inequality 12:05, May 21 2012
Ed Miliband has accused the Government of taking backward steps on social mobility by allowing inequality to grow and denying bright youngsters from poor backgrounds the chance to succeed. more
The latest UK & World news stories from the Press Association.
