West Berkshire Council Launches School Improvement Initiative

West Berkshire Council has set up school improvement 'hit squads' after government data put the district among the worst for attainment among disadvantaged pupils.

In April, Dame Kate Dethridge of the Department for Education criticised the council. By age 16 the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers in West Berkshire is among the largest in the country - equivalent to almost two years of learning.

The council says it has re‑deployed £325,000 to improving schools from April 2026.

Schools that still do not improve after extra help could receive a formal warning, which could lead to a temporary board taking over how the school is run.

"The money will help spot problems sooner and give schools the support they need," said Heather Codling (Lib Dem, Chieveley and Cold Ash), portfolio holder for children and family services.

"This has increased the headcount in our Schools Improvement Team, and support is offered to all schools, not just those who historically bought in to it.

"The aim is to help every child do well, whatever their background, and close gaps in achievement.

"We will be developing a new partnership of local education leaders who will oversee the work of improvement in our schools.

"It will focus on disadvantaged pupils, young people outside education, work or training, and how schools are run and funded. School governors will also get more training."

Schools will work in three cluster groups - West, Central and East - sharing teaching methods and linking to council support such as family hubs. Three advisers will visit and support schools based on need, while council teams will tackle attendance, suspensions and exclusions.

Critics say many schools have prioritised Ofsted grades (95 per cent are rated good or outstanding) over lifting outcomes for disadvantaged children.

The issue is back before the council's executive committee next Thursday.

A question submitted by Katie Mills to the portfolio holder for children and family services asks: "West Berkshire Council has publicly celebrated ranking in the top 10 per cent nationally for the condition of its unclassified roads.

"Yet the Education Policy Institute has identified West Berkshire as having the largest GCSE disadvantage gap in England, with disadvantaged pupils falling 25.7 months behind their non-disadvantaged peers nationally.

"How does the council account for such a stark difference in performance, and what measurable improvements should residents expect in disadvantaged children's educational outcomes over the next two years?

"In particular, how is the council ensuring that schools (including special schools) are effectively challenged when disadvantaged pupils fail to make expected progress?"

The council says improvement will take time but that the right foundations are now in place to deliver sustained progress, with robust governance, oversight and accountability.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter