Raising ambition is the biggest challenge facing education in Reading, says the council’s new head of education.

Mark Fowler was delivering a report on the new strategy for the town’s 'future educational success', at Reading Borough Council's Adult Social Care, Children's Services and Education committee on Thursday, February 14.

He said all ‘players’ in Reading’s education system had been prepared to put up with average performance for too long.

The 'Now is the Time' report highlights a series of challenges to Reading’s quality of education, including high exclusion rates and the need to increase provision for children with additional needs.

The head of education was asked by councillor Rob White to highlight the biggest challenge to delivering the strategy.

Mr Fowler said: “The largest challenge is to raise our collective ambition. This is a challenge we have got to raise collectively over a period of time.

“At the moment, our schools and service, possibly our parents and possibly ourselves tend to compare ourselves with statistical neighbours.

“That means that we compare the average with the average. If you aim to excel you have to compare yourself with the best and strive for that.

“That is a challenge to all of us in the system in Reading. For too long we have been prepared to put up with average performance.

“Our children deserve better than this and I believe that Reading is capable of doing that through partnership.

“All players in this game will need to be prepared to join in a collective ambition. That is the biggest challenge of all.”

Mark Fowler joined the council's executive team after the previous head of education, Paul Wagstaff, left to join West Sussex County Council in December last year.

As part of the ‘Now is the Time’ strategy, pupils with challenging behaviours will be supported through a therapeutic approach to meeting their needs to avoid them being excluded from schools.

Councillor Pearce, lead member for Education, was unable to attend the meeting but delivered a statement beforehand.

He said: “We know that our exclusions are too high. There is a big cross over in our exclusions with special educational needs as well as students being disadvantaged.

“Schools cannot solve all of society’s problems, many exclusions are often the thin end of a bigger wedge.

“But we can do more to help schools understand this and help keep these young people in school”