School criticised by Letwin earns glowing report
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The comprehensive school criticised by Oliver Letwin, who said he would rather become a beggar than allow his children to go there, is to receive a glowing report from England's education watchdog.
Ofsted inspectors who visited Lilian Baylis School in Lambeth, south London, earlier this month concluded that it was a "good school" where 98 per cent of lessons were satisfactory or better. Mr Letwin, the shadow Chancellor, told a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference that he would "go out on the streets and beg" rather than send his children to the comprehensive near his London home.
Mr Letwin, an Old Etonian who was shadow Home Secretary at the time, has twins aged 10 and lives in Kennington in Lambeth during the week, returning to his West Dorset constituency at weekends. He was forced to apologise to the school after telling the meeting that middle-class parents were prepared to pay to educate their children privately to avoid such comprehensives.
Ofsted refused to comment on the report's contents, confirming only that it would be published in January. But it is understood that when inspectors met governors and senior staff, they said 64 per cent of lessons they had seen were good or better and only 2 per cent less than satisfactory.
Mr Letwin said yesterday that he would be delighted if the school received a positive report. "If this is true, I'm absolutely delighted to hear of this massive improvement. I'm hoping in due course to visit the school and I congratulate them on their achievement."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments