New broom takes over as report reveals gap in school standards

Stuart Carlton, who was previously an assistant director at Lincolnshire Council, takes over as a new report revealed that progress among primary school pupils in the county remained in the bottom quarter of the national table, and that nearly a quarter of children who were made the subject of a “child protection plan” had to subsequently be placed on a second or third plan.

North Yorkshire is one of seven councils to be named by the government as a “partner in practice”, in an initiative to share ideas with other authorities.

Its new “children’s plan”, which was adopted last week, reports a 20 per cent reduction in the population of children in care, at a saving of £2m, and 1,500 fewer referrals for children’s social care.

But it also revealed that among 6-7 year-olds, nearly four in ten were “scared to be at school because of other children”.

The report highlights a disparity in educational achievement across the county, with Harrogate best and Ryedale rated below average.

Mr Carlton, who is from Grimsby, said: “All my family worked in local trades and I was the first person to go to university, so I know what aspiration is all about.

“My dad was the son of a poor trawlerman, one of eight, and though he passed his exams to go to grammar school, his family could not afford to send him.

“So removing barriers and creating opportunities so that all children can be the best that they can be is a fundamental priority.”

Coun Janet Sanderson, North Yorkshire’s executive member for children’s services, said: “More of our children go to good or outstanding schools and we have reduced our care population by 20 per cent.

“But we want to broaden our reach. To make change happen we need collective action across all parts of the system.”