Most pupils receive good education, council says

Most pupils in Wolverhampton are receiving a good daily education, the council says as it considers a report showing improvements made over recent academic years.

At the end of the summer term in 2025, 97% of schools had Ofsted ratings of good or outstanding for quality of education, a report from the authority said.

This represents a 27% increase since 2014 and puts the city's schools well above the national average of 90%, it added.

City of Wolverhampton Council's Education Excellence strategy is aiming to improve educational outcomes and identify areas of improvement for young learners.

The council report revealed, of 110 schools with Ofsted ratings in August 2025, 106 were judged to be good or outstanding for overall effectiveness or quality of education.

During the academic year, four schools moved from the lowest rating of requires improvement to good while two were judged inadequate.

The report said two schools rated as requiring improvement under the previous Ofsted framework in summer 2024, Bushbury Hill and Graiseley primaries, were both receiving support.

Wednesfield Technology Primary, which opened in September 2024, is due to be inspected during the next academic year.

A new Ofsted school rating system came into effect last November, scrapping the previous one or two-word grading method.

Instead, schools will receive a report card aiming to give a more detailed snapshot of school performance.

The council's report also revealed 77% of primary-aged pupils achieved the expected standard in a phonics screening during Year 1, slightly lower than the 80% national level.

By the end of primary school, 64% of pupils achieved the expected reading, writing and maths standard, which is above national performance, it stated.

Figures also show disadvantaged pupils perform well compared to national and regional peers, officers said.

Among recommendations made in the report are a new offering of support to secondary English and maths teachers, and the continuation of projects improving achievement of learners with educational health and care plans and SEND support.

The report is to be considered by the council's children and young people scrutiny panel on 4 March.

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