Dudley college students proceed to attain beneath nationwide benchmarks in key GCSE topics, although officers observe ongoing progress. The newest council training report exhibits that 54.6% of pupils in native colleges achieved a normal go (grade 4 or above) in each English and maths for the 2024/25 educational yr. This trails the nationwide common of 65% and the West Midlands determine of 57.2%.
Plans for Academic Enchancment
John Macilwraith, Dudley director of youngsters’s companies, highlighted the necessity for additional developments. “While there’s enchancment in lots of areas of outcomes, there continues to be enchancment wanted,” he said. “Throughout 25/26 the Training Group can be writing an Training Technique that can convey all stakeholders collectively. This may align priorities from professionals in colleges and training institutions, the Division for Training, Ofsted, mother and father and kids to enhance the outcomes for the youngsters and younger folks of Dudley.”
Progress in Key Stage 2 Assessments
Encouraging outcomes emerged at key stage 2 for youngsters aged seven to 11. Mixed attainment in studying, writing, and maths reached 60%, matching West Midlands ranges and simply 1% shy of the nationwide common, up 3% from prior figures.
Early Years Growth Targets
In early years and reception lessons, 63.7% of Dudley kids met the nice degree of improvement (GLD) throughout standards like bodily improvement, communication, language, private and social-emotional components, teachers, and understanding the world. This falls beneath the nationwide 68.3%. A authorities initiative, Giving Each Little one the Finest Begin in Life, units an area GLD goal of 71.9% by 2027/28.
Macilwraith added: “We’ll nonetheless be beneath a nationwide goal of 75% by 2028, however extra kids will obtain that customary than Dudley has beforehand reached.”
Suspensions and Exclusions on the Rise
For 2023/24, Dudley’s faculty suspension charge stood at 9.6%, beneath the nationwide 11.3%, although it elevated from the earlier yr. Main colleges reported 2%, secondary 21.3%, and particular colleges 2.9%—all below nationwide charges.
Everlasting exclusions additionally climbed to 0.2%, exceeding the nationwide 0.1%. Provisional 2024/25 knowledge signifies an extra rise to 0.25%. Macilwraith famous: “There are two important colleges for this, and the inclusion officers proceed to work with the faculties, academies and multi academy trusts to make sure that any everlasting exclusion is the final resort for a headteacher.”
