In brief Top of page How gold star county copedwith fire, flood and tempest Despite fire, flood and tempest, Hampshire's schools bosses never let their 176,000 pupils down. Ofsted inspectors have acknowledged their efforts with gold stars and top marks. It follows an inspection in January which covered all aspects of the education authority's service. Leadership overall is consistent, purposeful and challenging. Services contributing to school improvement are focused and well- organised.
Services have a strong focus and are consistently of good quality and responsive to schools' needs.
The education department employs 1,400 people who provide the services for 175,853 pupils and 14,000 teaching staff in 551 schools. They were absolutely wonderful. Within days classrooms had been ordered and staff from the property services department worked every day for a month at the temporary Bereweeke Road site. St Bede pupils were back in school by the third week in January. Education chairman, Don Allen, said the report was a resounding vote of confidence.