New data from Dudley Council has highlighted concerning gaps in educational attainment, with local pupils continuing to trail behind national averages in crucial subjects like English and mathematics. The comprehensive education report reveals persistent challenges despite some areas showing measurable improvement.
GCSE Performance Falls Short of National Benchmarks
The latest figures show that during the 2024/25 academic year, only 54.6 percent of Dudley students achieved a standard pass (grade four or above) in both English and maths GCSEs. This result sits significantly below the national average of 65 percent and even trails the West Midlands regional average of 57.2 percent.
John Macilwraith, Dudley's director of children's services, acknowledged the ongoing challenges while outlining plans for improvement. "Whilst there is improvement in many areas of outcomes, there continues to be improvement needed," he stated in the council report.
Strategic Response to Educational Challenges
The education team is developing a comprehensive strategy to address these attainment gaps. "During 25/26 the Education Team will be writing an Education Strategy that will bring all stakeholders together," Macilwraith explained. "This will align priorities from professionals in schools and education establishments, the Department for Education, Ofsted, parents and children to improve the outcomes for the children and young people of Dudley."
Brighter Spots in Primary Education
The report contained more encouraging news regarding primary school performance. Assessment levels for six core reading, writing and maths subjects in Dudley improved by three percent to reach 60 percent. This matches the West Midlands regional level and sits just one percentage point below national averages.
Early Years Development Shows Room for Growth
In early years and reception classes, children's attainment is measured across multiple criteria including:
- Physical development
- Communication and language skills
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Academic progress
- Understanding of the world
These assessments combine to determine whether children reach a "good level of development" (GLD). Currently, 63.7 percent of Dudley children achieve this expected level, which remains below the national average of 68.3 percent.
The government's "Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life" initiative has set Dudley a challenging GLD target of 71.9 percent by the end of 2027/28. Macilwraith noted: "We will still be below a national target of 75 percent by 2028, but more children will achieve that standard than Dudley has previously reached."
Behaviour and Exclusion Patterns
The report also examined school behaviour patterns, revealing mixed findings. For the 2023/24 academic year, Dudley's suspension rate stood at 9.6 percent, below the national average of 11.3 percent. However, this represents an upward trend compared to previous years.
Suspension rates varied significantly across different school types:
- Primary schools: 2 percent
- Secondary schools: 21.3 percent
- Special schools: 2.9 percent
All these figures remained below corresponding national levels. More concerning was the increase in permanent exclusions, with Dudley's overall rate reaching 0.2 percent—double the national rate of 0.1 percent. Provisional data for 2024/25 suggests this trend continues, with permanent exclusions rising to 0.25 percent.
Addressing Exclusion Concerns
Macilwraith addressed these exclusion patterns directly: "There are two significant schools for this, and the inclusion officers continue to work with the schools, academies and multi academy trusts to ensure that any permanent exclusion is the last resort for a headteacher." This approach reflects a commitment to keeping children within the education system wherever possible.
The comprehensive report paints a picture of an education system facing significant challenges but actively working toward solutions. While attainment gaps persist in core secondary subjects, improvements in primary education and strategic planning offer hope for future progress across Dudley's schools.
