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| Sharp fall in struggling schools | Sharp fall in struggling schools |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The number of underperforming secondary schools has fallen sharply in England - as the government pushes ahead with plans to improve the weakest schools. | The number of underperforming secondary schools has fallen sharply in England - as the government pushes ahead with plans to improve the weakest schools. |
| There are now only 270 schools below the threshold of 30% of pupils achieving five good GCSEs, including English and maths. | There are now only 270 schools below the threshold of 30% of pupils achieving five good GCSEs, including English and maths. |
| This is a 40% year on year reduction in schools in this struggling category. | This is a 40% year on year reduction in schools in this struggling category. |
| Schools Secretary Ed Balls said "to get this number to zero would once have seemed an impossibility". | Schools Secretary Ed Balls said "to get this number to zero would once have seemed an impossibility". |
| In 1997, there were 1,600 schools which had not met this level of achievement. | In 1997, there were 1,600 schools which had not met this level of achievement. |
| Low expectations | Low expectations |
| "There were some schools which had a view of the world that low expectations were accepted," said Mr Balls. | "There were some schools which had a view of the world that low expectations were accepted," said Mr Balls. |
| He said the government would be "uncompromising" in ensuring that all schools rose at least to this minimum level. | He said the government would be "uncompromising" in ensuring that all schools rose at least to this minimum level. |
| "This is a floor target - not the summit of our ambition for schools," he said. | "This is a floor target - not the summit of our ambition for schools," he said. |
| There will now be drives to tackle underachievement in specific local authorities - Kent, Leeds and Suffolk. | There will now be drives to tackle underachievement in specific local authorities - Kent, Leeds and Suffolk. |
| Mr Balls said this summer's GCSE results were evidence of the success of the National Challenge scheme which set a minimum level of exam results. | Mr Balls said this summer's GCSE results were evidence of the success of the National Challenge scheme which set a minimum level of exam results. |
| This threatened schools which failed to meet this benchmark by 2011 with closure or being replaced by a school with a new identity, such as an academy. | This threatened schools which failed to meet this benchmark by 2011 with closure or being replaced by a school with a new identity, such as an academy. |
| Mr Balls said the academy programme had been a "genuine revolution in how secondary education is delivered for those areas and pupils that need it most". | Mr Balls said the academy programme had been a "genuine revolution in how secondary education is delivered for those areas and pupils that need it most". |
| 'Obsession' | 'Obsession' |
| However, underperforming academies which had been running for at least three years would face the same compulsion for improvement - including the threat of closure - as other schools, he said. | However, underperforming academies which had been running for at least three years would face the same compulsion for improvement - including the threat of closure - as other schools, he said. |
| Mr Balls said his advisers would be working with education officials in Kent - where about one in five secondary schools is below the government's threshold. | Mr Balls said his advisers would be working with education officials in Kent - where about one in five secondary schools is below the government's threshold. |
| But the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Christine Blower, attacked the national challenge initiative. | |
| "Naming and shaming schools is an unacceptable measure which does nothing for the morale of teachers, pupils and the local community," she said. | |
| Nansi Ellis, head of education policy at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said the national challenge scheme "appears to have given schools additional, targeted support to improve results, and it is vital that schools continue to get the support they need to sustain improvements". | Nansi Ellis, head of education policy at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said the national challenge scheme "appears to have given schools additional, targeted support to improve results, and it is vital that schools continue to get the support they need to sustain improvements". |
| "The government should end its continuing obsession with academies as the answer to all and any education problem." | "The government should end its continuing obsession with academies as the answer to all and any education problem." |
| Shadow Schools Secretary Nick Gibb said: "There are still far too many schools where fewer than a third of children reach the basic standard of five good GCSEs including English and maths, and it is the poorest areas that are worst affected." | Shadow Schools Secretary Nick Gibb said: "There are still far too many schools where fewer than a third of children reach the basic standard of five good GCSEs including English and maths, and it is the poorest areas that are worst affected." |