by political editor Paul Francis

Kent schools need to do more to improve the prospects of pupils from poorer backgrounds, according to the county’s education chief.

Patrick Leeson, the council’s education director, has told county councillors it was "extremely unacceptable" that in secondary school exams, pupils on free school meals - taken as an indicator of disadvantage - were half as likely to get five good GCSEs.

He also said there was "significant under-achievement and under-performance among some schools in Kent".

kcc said the seven, which have not been identified, could be compelled to convert to academy status this year under the government’s policy.
kcc education director patrick leeson said not all schools considered to be under-performing would be converted. some could be linked through a federation with another school.

academy talks

seven primary schools could be forced to become academies by the government because of poor standards.

discussions between kcc and department for education officials about the seven have taken place.

Mr Leeson said one of the key issues facing the authority was how to close the gap between those poorer backgrounds who appeared to fare less well at school.

He said: "Pupils on free school meals do less well than elsewhere. There is less social mobility achieved through the education system in Kent than elsewhere.

"Some 28% of pupils on free school meals get five good GCSEs compared to the average of 59%. That is an extremely unacceptable gap in outcome.

"If we could close that gap then we would make a difference and our overall results would go up significantly. That is one of the key issues we are concentrating on."

The education authority has set up the Kent Challenge, a scheme in which schools considered to be not performing as well they could, are being offered targeted support.

Mr Leeson said he was optimistic efforts to drive up standards was accelerating the rate of improvement.

At the same time, he warned a number of schools that had been inspected by Ofsted since October had been downgraded from 'good' to 'satisfactory'.

"That is not a helpful trend," he said. "We have rather more schools in that category than we would want or expect."

However, there was "very good intervention and support" for schools that were at risk of being failed and by the end of the year, no more than five schools would be in special measures or under a notice to improve.

The government is due to publish the latest secondary school league tables next Thursday.

It has set a new target for secondary schools to achieve in 2012, saying 40% of pupils should get five or more good GCSEs. By 2015, it says that should rise to 50%.