THE EDUCATION authority can start the next school year with a clean slate after passing the latest Ofsted inspection with flying colours.

Redbridge Local Education Authority is now free from being re-inspected by Ofsted after spending the last two years raising its standards to meet Government requirements.

In a report published on Thursday the authority was praised for improving communication between councillors and headteachers after a breakdown in their relationship meant the authority failed its last Ofsted inspection in 2000.

This year's report states: "The lack of effective leadership given by members, weakness in management, together with poor communication at all levels, meant that education did not always inform important budgetary decisions and headteachers felt excluded from decision-making."

But after the appointment 18 months ago of a new director of education and lifelong learning and the establishment of a schools partnership, Ofsted has now judged Redbridge LEA to be a "highly satisfactory authority".

The new director, Edwina Grant, said: "In 2000 there was a management failure and breakdown in services however we had excellent schools. And the Ofsted report says we've got the capacity to be even better."

Pleased with the turn round, Cllr Sue Nolan, cabinet member for education, said: "We are all singing from the same hymn sheet now. We are working together. As a result of the last Ofsted report relationships between council members, LEA officers and headteachers have improved dramatically."

Labour cllr Richard Newcombe, who was cabinet member for education until the local elections in May, said: "Significant improvements have been made in the quality of support provided by the authority. However these improvements must be sustained and there are still areas that need further improvement."

While literacy and numeracy and the leadership of senior officers were amongst the services singled out for praise support for gifted and talented pupils and the provision for educating pupils out of school were deemed to be unsatisfactory.

And after passing the inspection Ms Grant says the LEA can now get on with the business of teaching and improving its overall service.

July 11, 2002 10:30