Brent has the highest percentage of failing schools in London

Staff at Copland School striking over academy plans (Image: Archant)

Data released yesterday by education watchdog Ofsted showed five per cent of state schools in the borough were deemed ‘inadequate’ by its inspectors

A total of 84 schools were inspected last year with 18 of them (21 per cent) being rated outstanding, 49 (58 per cent) good, 13 (15 per cent) required improvement and four (five per cent) inadequate.

The four failing schools are The Crest Girls Academy, The Crest Boys Academy, Copland Community School in Cecil Avenue, Wembley, and Gladstone Park Primary School in Sherrick Green Road, Dollis Hill.

Under government guidelines local authority-run schools which fail their Ofsted inspections are converted into academies.

The two Crest academies adopted their statues in 2009 before the guidelines were introduced.

Copland and Gladstone Park are currently going through the conversion process.

However parents and staff at both schools have fought the plans which will see Ark Academy take over Copland in September, and CfBT Education Trust manage Gladstone Park in the near future.

Last month E-Act academy which runs the Crest academies lost control of 10 schools after Ofsted inspectors raised serious concerns about their performance.

However they will continue to manage the academies in Crest Road, Neasden, which were formerly known as John Kelly Boys and John Kelly Girls schools.

David Moran, E-ACT chief executive, said: “E-ACT has agreed with DfE Ministers and officials to reduce the number of academies we sponsor from 34 to 24.

“This means that we are best placed to make a significant difference to those 24 academies by allowing us to focus our attention to best effect.”

Croydon has the largest number of failing schools with five but this accounted for four percent in the borough.

No schools in Camden, Ealing, Hackney, Kensington and Chelsea and Sutton were rated inadequate.

With 59 per cent of school rated outstanding Kensington and Chelsea has the highest percentage in London.

Barnet has 47 outstanding schools the highest number in the city.

Sara Williams, Brent’s Council’s director of children and families, said: “We have the highest expectations and ambitions for children and young people in Brent. Even one inadequate school is one too many, as local pupils deserve an excellent education.

“We are working very closely with Brent schools and academy sponsors to make sure that this small number of inadequate schools is turned around.”