West Berkshire Council sets strong foundations to improve educational attainment

As the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee prepares to consider a report on education outcomes on 15 April, West Berkshire Council is highlighting the significant steps already taken to improve educational attainment across the district, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Educational attainment has been a long‑standing challenge both locally and nationally, with performance declining over several years. Recognising this, the Council made improving attainment a corporate priority and has taken steps to strengthen support for schools.

A key milestone was the decision to bring the school improvement function in‑house, backed by an investment of £325,000. This change enables closer working with schools, stronger use of data, and a more joined‑up approach across education, SEND, early help and safeguarding services.

The Council is now developing a new, evidence‑led school improvement strategy shaped around local need and the current Ofsted inspection framework. This ensures that support and challenge for schools are aligned with how they are assessed, with a strong focus on curriculum quality, inclusion and outcomes for vulnerable pupils.

While improvement will take time, the Council is clear that the right foundations are now in place to deliver sustained progress, with robust governance, oversight and accountability.

"Improving attainment, particularly for our most disadvantaged children, is one of the most important responsibilities we have as a Council,"  said Councillor Heather Codling, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Children and Young People.

"We inherited a system that needed significant change, and we have taken action. By bringing school improvement back in‑house, investing in our capacity, and strengthening how we work with schools and partner services, we have created the conditions for real, long‑term improvement.

"This is about doing things properly and sustainably, using the right data, the right expertise and the right support, so that our children and young people are given the best possible chance to succeed."

The Council recognises the scale of the challenge but remains firmly committed to improving outcomes, with a clear focus on long‑term impact rather than short‑term fixes.