The leadership provided by the Executive Director and her senior officers is accessible, principled, well-informed and purposeful. Financial arrangements reflect the LEA's clarity, purpose and transparency. The clear financial strategy is flexible and hence effective in allocating resources to new policy priorities. Regular consultative review and adjustment of the needs led school formula funding has ensured that schools understand and support the basis of their funding. The evidence of its effectiveness in increasing standards is however, modest at this stage.
Standards are generally above average for Inner London, but below the national average.
They are rising, but not markedly faster than in similar LEAs, or across LEAs nationally. However, this does not yet amount to a convincing demonstration that the LEA is leading an overall rise in standards. The LEA is involved in a number of initiatives. In some respects it is trying to do too much. It needs to be more selective, pursuing only those initiatives which clearly match schools' own priorities and strategies for improvement.