Nick Wallace's Profile

In 2000-01, there was a simple linear relationship between Ofsted's ratings of a school and the proportion of children on free school meals. The higher the proportion of FSM children, the lower a school's chances of being rated good or better, and the higher its chances of being just satisfactory or worse.

In 2006-07, however (the categories have changed, but the comparison is broadly valid), that is no longer so. The best secondary schools, judged good or outstanding, fell into two categories: those where FSM children accounted for fewer than 5%, and those where they accounted for more than 50%. A similar result emerges from analysis of exam results. FSM children now do best, apparently, in schools where there are either very few of them or very many of them.

By her own account most of Gilbert's career was an accident, with one damn promotion following another. Mann backs her up: " She was always perceived by colleagues and superiors as having the capability. She was groomed for success."