PUPILS, staff and parents were celebrating across Worcestershire today after 56 schools and nurseries were judged to be ‘outstanding’.

Twelve schools, 43 childcare providers and one social care provider in the county were named among the best in the country.

Among those listed were Nunnery Wood High School, Nunnery Wood Primary School and Martley Pupil Referral Unit, all in Worcester; Wyche CE Primary School in Malvern; Powick CE Primary School and the Chantry High School in Martley.

They were listed in the annual report of the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted).

The report – based on 40,000 Ofsted inspections – judges the standard of care, education and skill being delivered to children, young people and adult learners across England and records where improvements need to be made.

Alun Williams, headteacher at Nunnery Wood High School, said he was “thrilled” and “delighted” to be included in the report.

“Everyone has worked so hard to make this school the success that it is today – staff, governors, parents and especially students,” he said. “Our Ofsted report is an accurate reflection of the school and we are absolutely delighted that the team thought so highly of us. ‘Outstanding’ is now our new benchmark and we shall expect everything that we do from now on to measure up to that. But at the same time we are not complacent – outstanding doesn’t mean perfect and we are now working even harder to make our school even better.”

Geoff Rutherford, headteacher at Wyche CE School, Malvern, said: “I am delighted that the report acknowledges not just the innovative curriculum but also recognises the significant contribution made by all groups within the school community; from the teachers and teaching assistants to the governors, parents and the children themselves.”

While the report highlighted an improvement in the number of schools rated good or outstanding, one in five schools judged to be at least good last year was satisfactory or worse this year.

The Government’s chief inspector of schools Christine Gilbert warned that children’s progress was being hampered by a “stubborn core” of poor teaching.

And she said too many young people were still leaving school without basic maths and English skills, which was limiting their life chances.

The report found almost a third of schools are still failing to give pupils a good education.

“There is still a stubborn core of inadequate teaching,” it said. “Furthermore, too much teaching is just satisfactory and fails to inspire, challenge and extend children, young people and adult learners.”

Ms Gilbert called for a focus on improving literacy and numeracy skills, warning that while there had been progress, it had been “slow”.

The report, which covers the academic year 2008/09, found: l Nineteen per cent ofschools were now rated “outstanding”, while 50 per cent were judged to be “good”.

l Thirty-one per cent were found to be not good enough – given a rating of “satisfactory” or “inadequate”. This is fewer than last year.

l Thirty-seven per cent of secondary schools were rated no better than satisfactory – with six per cent judged to be inadequate. The report warned that this figure was “still too high”.

In Herefordshire, seven schools, 26 childcare providers and one social care provider were judged to be outstanding.

new benchmark and we shall expect everything that we do from now on to measure up to that. But at the same time we are not complacent.”

Geoff Rutherford, headteacher at Wyche CE School, Malvern, said: “I am delighted that the report acknowledges not just the innovative curriculum but also recognises the significant contribution made by all groups within the school community; from the teachers and teaching assistants to the governors, parents and the children themselves.”

While the report highlighted an improvement in the number of schools rated good or outstanding, one in five schools judged to be at least good last year was satisfactory or worse this year.

The Government’s chief inspector of schools Chris-tine Gilbert warned that children’s progress was being hampered by a “stubborn core” of poor teaching.

And she said too many young people were still leaving school without basic maths and English skills, which was limiting their life chances.

The report found almost a third of schools are still failing to give pupils a good education. The report, which covers the academic year 2008/09, found: l Nineteen per cent of schools were now rated “outstanding”, while 50 per cent were judged to be “good”.

l Thirty-one per cent were found to be not good enough – given a rating of “satisfactory” or “inadequate”. This is fewer than last year.

l Thirty-seven per cent of secondary schools were rated no better than satisfactory – with six per cent judged to be inadequate. The report warned that this figure was “still too high”.

In Herefordshire, seven schools, 26 childcare provid-ers and one social care provider were judged to be outstanding.

Outstanding providers in Worcestershire included: Evesham Nursery School, Evesham; Brighter Futures, Malvern; Brighter Futures – Cherry Orchard, Worcester; Magic Moments Private Day Nursery, Worcester; Stourport Out of School Club, Stourport-on-Severn; Tan Lane Pre-School Nursery, Stourport-on-Severn; The Lenches Pre-School Group, Evesham; Malvern Wyche CE Primary School, Malvern; Pershore Holy Redeemer Catholic Primary School, Pershore; Powick CE Primary School, Worcester; Sytchampton Endowed First School, Stourport-on-Severn; Nunnery Wood Primary School, Worcester; Vale of Evesham School, Evesham; Chantry High School, Martley; Nunnery Wood High School, Worcester; The Stourport High School and Sixth Form Centre, Stourport-on-Severn; Martley Pupil Referral Unit, Worcester.