The quality of primary leadership is critical to the progress children make because the foundations laid in primary schools powerfully influence their future lives and life chances.
Over the past 10 years, standards in English and mathematics have improved significantly, as has the quality of leadership, teaching and learning. In over 60 per cent of primary schools, leadership is now good or outstanding, but significant challenges remain. Four per cent of schools are judged by Ofsted to be inadequate – equivalent to over 700 schools; 1.2 per cent are in special measures; and Key Stage 2 standards in English and mathematics are still below target, despite the great improvements of the last 10 years.
In his remit letter of 10 April 2007, the Secretary of State said:
"I look to the College to convene a Primary Leadership Group, in partnership with the Director of the National Primary Strategy and DfES officials, to consider key issues facing primary heads and how they are planning to address them in their core leadership programmes and strategic initiatives in order to support the drive for higher standards in primary schools and progress for all pupils. I would like the College to provide me with advice by July 2007 on how the issues raised might be addressed. It should also give particular focus on how primary leaders can best be developed and supported to work in schools, or groups of schools, with different models of leadership and governance introduced in order to raise standards further or turn around problems of failure."