Schools in Southwark put the borough on the educational map

Schools in Southwark are among the best in the UK, it has been claimed. Figures published by Southwark Council revealed that the local authority has injected £170 million in the borough's schools.

Primary school reception places have increased as a result, with an additional 1,080 places becoming available between 2009 and 2013.

The council said that the funding has helped to improve learning environments by expanding buildings and bringing in state-of-the art teaching facilities. 

School attainment has also risen in the borough, with levels of achievement for English and maths reaching 83 per cent, compared to the national average of 79 per cent.

In addition, the vast majority (80 per cent) of primary schools in the borough were judged as good or outstanding by Ofsted. This has helped to catapult the borough in the top quartile of performance nationally.

Commenting on the findings, councillor Dora Dixon Fyle, cabinet member for children's services, said: "I am so proud of the pupils, parents and teachers in Southwark who have all worked so hard with the council to drive up standards, and I am confident that between us we can continue to offer enough places in a wide choice of high quality schools to meet demand. 

"But we can't rest on our laurels. The pace and scale of the increase in demand for school places is going to need a continuing investment programme, one that builds on the success and popularity of local high performing schools and seeks to engage external funding sources and school providers to ensure the best opportunities for our children." 

GCSE exam results in the borough has also hit record levels. Some 65.2 per cent of pupils received five or more A* to C grades at GCSE or equivalent.

The national average stands at just 60.8 per cent. Southwark schools are now ranked 33rd in England - a leap of 38 places from the previous year.

Published 3rd April, 2014

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