Doncaster Council's support for schools 'not improved enough'

Support for raising standards in Doncaster's schools has not improved enough, inspectors have warned.

Ofsted said Doncaster Council's school improvement service has "not met the necessary rise in standards" since its last inspection.

The watchdog said council leaders had "redoubled their efforts" and tackled its recommendations with "vigour and urgency".

But the improvements made need further work, the report, external said.

The authority said it will "continue to push for improvements."

The inspection last year was triggered due to the low proportion of schools in the borough judged to be good or outstanding.

The authority was told its school support service was "ineffective" and had to improve.

An inspection in March said the collection and use of data on school performance - previously deemed "not fit for purpose" by Ofsted - is now more focused.

But inspector Michelle Winter said Doncaster's schools are still among the lowest performing 20% in England.

"Improvements to the local authority's systems and procedures are recent and some require further refinement and development; therefore they have not yet secured the necessary rise in standards," she wrote.

Councillor Nuala Fennelly, cabinet member for schools, said the report showed the council was "moving in the right direction."

"We know we have more to do and will continue to support and challenge schools to improve.

"There is a now a shared vision of where we need to be and it is not good enough that Doncaster is not at least as good as the national average," she added.