The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) and the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) are today publishing the second round of annual performance assessments (APA) for 102 local authorities.

Seven local authorities – Camden, Gloucestershire, Knowsley, Shropshire, Wandsworth, Worcestershire and Tower Hamlets – achieved the highest grades of outstanding in all categories.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools, Christine Gilbert, said:

“We saw many strengths emerging across a number of authorities and I would like to congratulate those authorities who have worked hard to improve the services they provide for children and young people.

“However, more than 5% of looked after children did not have a named social worker in 2005/6. This is an improvement on 2004/5, when it was 6.6%, but a poorer performance than 2003/04 when the average was 2.7%. The educational attainment of looked after children is still a long way short of the level achieved by all children, and is improving only slowly.

“It is not acceptable that in 2004/05 less than 10% of young people in care achieved five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C compared with a national figure of 57.1%. I am pleased to see that the government is making this such a high priority through the children in care green paper.”

CSCI’s Chief Inspector, Paul Snell, added:

“CSCI and Ofsted continue to work together, recognising when local authorities are performing well, but also making sure poorly performing authorities are closely monitored. Throughout this time of transition, we will make sure they have action plans in place and place a high priority on improving services for children and young people.”

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