About Education
The poorest-performing secondary schools could be closed or turned into academies if they do not present a viable rescue plan in the next 50 days.
The government is targeting 638 schools in England currently failing to reach minimum standards for GCSEs.
The target is for 30% of pupils to get at least five grade C GCSEs, including maths and English.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said he wants an action plan for each low-performing school by July.
Some 134 out of the 150 local authorities in England have been told to produce the detailed plans for specific schools located in their areas by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Authorities will be offered extra resources but schools will face "formal intervention" if they do not progress.
The government is targeting 638 schools in England currently failing to reach minimum standards for GCSEs.
The target is for 30% of pupils to get at least five grade C GCSEs, including maths and English.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said he wants an action plan for each low-performing school by July.
Some 134 out of the 150 local authorities in England have been told to produce the detailed plans for specific schools located in their areas by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Authorities will be offered extra resources but schools will face "formal intervention" if they do not progress.
Under the government's "National Challenge" programme, all schools must reach the 30% target by 2011.
As part of the DCSF's attempt to improve standards the schools will get an expert individual adviser, and more "superheads" with past experience of turning schools around will be named as National Leaders of Education to work alongside existing heads.
Schools in the most deprived local authorities will also receive £10,000 in extra funding to pay for trips to cultural events and the recruiting of people from local communities to act as mentors.
Ed Balls said: "Each of these schools faces different challenges in getting up to and over 30%.
"That is why I am asking local authorities for a specific plan of action for each National Challenge school by the end of July, so that we can be confident that all of them will succeed.
"Every National Challenge school will get its own package of extra support and extra funding to help them improve pupils' results.
"But I will not hesitate to challenge local authorities to do more for their local schools where bigger changes or faster improvements are needed."
New academies
The creation of independent academies is one of the central ideas of the government's drive to improve struggling schools, particularly in challenging inner city areas.
Ministers plan to have 200 academies open or in the pipeline by 2010, seeing them as a key way of improving schools. They aim ultimately
As part of the DCSF's attempt to improve standards the schools will get an expert individual adviser, and more "superheads" with past experience of turning schools around will be named as National Leaders of Education to work alongside existing heads.
Schools in the most deprived local authorities will also receive £10,000 in extra funding to pay for trips to cultural events and the recruiting of people from local communities to act as mentors.
Ed Balls said: "Each of these schools faces different challenges in getting up to and over 30%.
"That is why I am asking local authorities for a specific plan of action for each National Challenge school by the end of July, so that we can be confident that all of them will succeed.
"Every National Challenge school will get its own package of extra support and extra funding to help them improve pupils' results.
"But I will not hesitate to challenge local authorities to do more for their local schools where bigger changes or faster improvements are needed."
New academies
The creation of independent academies is one of the central ideas of the government's drive to improve struggling schools, particularly in challenging inner city areas.
Ministers plan to have 200 academies open or in the pipeline by 2010, seeing them as a key way of improving schools. They aim ultimately
to open 400 in England.
A high proportion of [these schools] work in the most challenging communities in the country
John DunfordAssociation of School and College Leaders
The Conservatives have said they would expand the number of academies in England in an attempt to tackle under achievement in deprived areas.
Michael Gove, the shadow children, schools and families secretary, said: "It is not just 600 schools at the bottom which give cause for concern.
Responding to Mr Balls' comments, he said: "There are hundreds more where fewer than half the children get five good GCSEs and as a nation we are falling behind.
"The government has no answer other then more bureaucracy and targets and they have no plans either to restore rigour to exams or freedom to professionals."
John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was "entirely wrong" for the 638 schools highlighted to be described as failing, as many were on "a rising tide of achievement".
He said: "A high proportion of them work in the most challenging communities in the country and, even though they have not reached 30% with five high-grade GCSE passes, many already add enormous value to children's achievement."
Mr Dunford said he welcomed the idea of one school helping another, but said more work would be needed to ensure the support given was effective.
A high proportion of [these schools] work in the most challenging communities in the country
John DunfordAssociation of School and College Leaders
The Conservatives have said they would expand the number of academies in England in an attempt to tackle under achievement in deprived areas.
Michael Gove, the shadow children, schools and families secretary, said: "It is not just 600 schools at the bottom which give cause for concern.
Responding to Mr Balls' comments, he said: "There are hundreds more where fewer than half the children get five good GCSEs and as a nation we are falling behind.
"The government has no answer other then more bureaucracy and targets and they have no plans either to restore rigour to exams or freedom to professionals."
John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was "entirely wrong" for the 638 schools highlighted to be described as failing, as many were on "a rising tide of achievement".
He said: "A high proportion of them work in the most challenging communities in the country and, even though they have not reached 30% with five high-grade GCSE passes, many already add enormous value to children's achievement."
Mr Dunford said he welcomed the idea of one school helping another, but said more work would be needed to ensure the support given was effective.
Source: From Collection
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