SWINDON: A fortnight ago, Ofsted completed an inspection of the council’s education system. The inspection itself took a month to complete and looks at how the council ensures children are treated especially at primary level.

The inspection is seen as a rigorous test and believed to be harder for smaller authorities like Swindon who have smaller numbers of staff.

As well as officers, the inspectors spoke with children, teachers, parents and carers.

It is unknown what the outcome is. The inspectors provide some verbal feedback, which is confidential, but the formal report is not to be put in writing until the end of next month.