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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thousands fail to get GCSE target | Thousands fail to get GCSE target |
| (2 days later) | |
| More than 340,000 pupils in England failed to get five good GCSE grades - including English and maths - last summer, official figures show. | More than 340,000 pupils in England failed to get five good GCSE grades - including English and maths - last summer, official figures show. |
| And one in seven schools - a total of 440 - failed to ensure that at least 30% of their pupils got five A*-C GCSEs, including the two core subjects. | And one in seven schools - a total of 440 - failed to ensure that at least 30% of their pupils got five A*-C GCSEs, including the two core subjects. |
| By 2011, the government wants no school to be in this position under its £400m National Challenge scheme. | By 2011, the government wants no school to be in this position under its £400m National Challenge scheme. |
| The statistics are drawn from school league table data due out on Thursday. | The statistics are drawn from school league table data due out on Thursday. |
| These overview statistics were published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families ahead of the main tables of school-by-school results, and update provisional figures released last October. | These overview statistics were published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families ahead of the main tables of school-by-school results, and update provisional figures released last October. |
| Overall, 47.6% of pupils in England achieved the equivalent of five or more grades A*-C, including English and maths, in 2008. | Overall, 47.6% of pupils in England achieved the equivalent of five or more grades A*-C, including English and maths, in 2008. |
| This means 342,195 completed their compulsory education without achieving those results, regarded as the minimum standard required for employment or further education. | This means 342,195 completed their compulsory education without achieving those results, regarded as the minimum standard required for employment or further education. |
| Some improvement | Some improvement |
| While 440 schools failed to meet the government's target of 30% of pupils getting these results, there is an improvement on previous years. | While 440 schools failed to meet the government's target of 30% of pupils getting these results, there is an improvement on previous years. |
| In 2007 and 2006, 631 and 783 schools respectively failed to meet the target. | In 2007 and 2006, 631 and 783 schools respectively failed to meet the target. |
| Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, said: "This is no time for excuses - I want every child to go to a good school and that means every school getting above 30%. | Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, said: "This is no time for excuses - I want every child to go to a good school and that means every school getting above 30%. |
| "We are putting in the extra resources to help heads reach this and local authorities will shortly be announcing their plans to make sure all schools reach this target by 2011. | "We are putting in the extra resources to help heads reach this and local authorities will shortly be announcing their plans to make sure all schools reach this target by 2011. |
| "I'm also really pleased that today's results show a continued improvement in the results of academies, which are often in the most deprived communities, and yet are improving their results faster than other schools." | "I'm also really pleased that today's results show a continued improvement in the results of academies, which are often in the most deprived communities, and yet are improving their results faster than other schools." |
| Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said: "Sadly, too many children are still being educated at schools which the prime minister classes as 'failing', and the gap between richer and poorer schools is widening." | Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said: "Sadly, too many children are still being educated at schools which the prime minister classes as 'failing', and the gap between richer and poorer schools is widening." |
| General secretary of the NASUWT Chris Keates said: "It is disgraceful that some schools will be labelled as failing simply because they have not yet met, for a variety of reasons, a set of arbitrary numerical targets. | General secretary of the NASUWT Chris Keates said: "It is disgraceful that some schools will be labelled as failing simply because they have not yet met, for a variety of reasons, a set of arbitrary numerical targets. |
| "These schools are no less committed than any others to ensuring all young people meet their full educational potential. They need support not condemnation." | "These schools are no less committed than any others to ensuring all young people meet their full educational potential. They need support not condemnation." |
| Editor's blog on row over access to data | Editor's blog on row over access to data |