This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/6056142.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Extent of school failure disputed | Extent of school failure disputed |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Claims that nearly one million children in England attend poorly performing schools are being disputed by teaching unions and the government. | Claims that nearly one million children in England attend poorly performing schools are being disputed by teaching unions and the government. |
| The Commons Public Accounts Committee says 1,557 schools do badly despite £837m spent on raising achievement. | The Commons Public Accounts Committee says 1,557 schools do badly despite £837m spent on raising achievement. |
| However, the Association of School and College Leaders said the report was "misleading and damaging" as often exam results reflected a school's intake. | |
| The government said claims that many were failing schools were "insulting". | The government said claims that many were failing schools were "insulting". |
| 'Apples with pears' | 'Apples with pears' |
| Schools minister Jim Knight said the report "compares apples with pears", mixing together schools which were failing with those which simply performed less well at exam time. | Schools minister Jim Knight said the report "compares apples with pears", mixing together schools which were failing with those which simply performed less well at exam time. |
| "A significant proportion of these schools are not failing," he said. | "A significant proportion of these schools are not failing," he said. |
| "In some, 60 to 70% of pupils get five good GCSEs and many others are improving very quickly thanks to incredibly dedicated staff and excellent leadership." | "In some, 60 to 70% of pupils get five good GCSEs and many others are improving very quickly thanks to incredibly dedicated staff and excellent leadership." |
| He added that, since 1997, standards had risen across the board. The number of schools with under a quarter of pupils gaining five good GCSEs had dropped from 616 in 1997 to 110 in 2005. | He added that, since 1997, standards had risen across the board. The number of schools with under a quarter of pupils gaining five good GCSEs had dropped from 616 in 1997 to 110 in 2005. |
| The ASCL said the committee's conclusions were based on a "flawed" report by the National Audit Office, issued last January. | The ASCL said the committee's conclusions were based on a "flawed" report by the National Audit Office, issued last January. |
| Disadvantaged communities | Disadvantaged communities |
| General secretary John Dunford said: "Many of these so-called failing schools serve disadvantaged communities where the school is so often the only place that improves young people's life chances. | General secretary John Dunford said: "Many of these so-called failing schools serve disadvantaged communities where the school is so often the only place that improves young people's life chances. |
| "School leaders devote their lives to educating and supporting such children and their families and will bitterly resent political games being played with these misinterpreted statistics." | "School leaders devote their lives to educating and supporting such children and their families and will bitterly resent political games being played with these misinterpreted statistics." |
| Dr Dunford said it was wrong to assume that because a school was in the bottom 25% it was failing. | Dr Dunford said it was wrong to assume that because a school was in the bottom 25% it was failing. |
| "There will always be 25% of schools in the bottom quartile, no matter how good their results, just as there will always be 25% of schools in the top quartile," he said. | "There will always be 25% of schools in the bottom quartile, no matter how good their results, just as there will always be 25% of schools in the top quartile," he said. |
| The PAC report comes after Sir Cyril Taylor, head of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, said about 500 secondary schools were seriously underperforming based on GCSE results. | The PAC report comes after Sir Cyril Taylor, head of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, said about 500 secondary schools were seriously underperforming based on GCSE results. |
| Teaching groups called Sir Cyril's comments unhelpful and demoralising. | Teaching groups called Sir Cyril's comments unhelpful and demoralising. |
| The PAC report, Improving Poorly Performing Schools in England, acknowledges that fewer schools now under-perform. | The PAC report, Improving Poorly Performing Schools in England, acknowledges that fewer schools now under-perform. |
| But it said that in July 2005 Ofsted had classed 49 schools as "underachieving". | But it said that in July 2005 Ofsted had classed 49 schools as "underachieving". |
| 'Severe consequences' | 'Severe consequences' |
| In addition, it said 242 were in special measures and 286 had "serious weaknesses". Additionally the Department for Education classed 402 schools as "low-attaining" and 578 as "under-performing". | In addition, it said 242 were in special measures and 286 had "serious weaknesses". Additionally the Department for Education classed 402 schools as "low-attaining" and 578 as "under-performing". |
| Committee chairman, Conservative MP Edward Leigh, said: "To waste so much human potential in this way is a tragedy. | Committee chairman, Conservative MP Edward Leigh, said: "To waste so much human potential in this way is a tragedy. |
| "The consequences in the long term for the pupils themselves and, more widely, for our society, will be severe." | "The consequences in the long term for the pupils themselves and, more widely, for our society, will be severe." |
| The report highlights the crucial role played by head teachers in setting the ethos for a school and calls for measures to attract more talented candidates to fill increasing numbers of vacancies for heads. | The report highlights the crucial role played by head teachers in setting the ethos for a school and calls for measures to attract more talented candidates to fill increasing numbers of vacancies for heads. |
| It also warns that the new "light touch" inspection regime introduced by Ofsted last September is not right for under-performing schools. | It also warns that the new "light touch" inspection regime introduced by Ofsted last September is not right for under-performing schools. |
| Shadow Education Secretary David Willetts said children in those schools suffered a "huge disadvantage" and raising standards "must be the priority". | Shadow Education Secretary David Willetts said children in those schools suffered a "huge disadvantage" and raising standards "must be the priority". |
| Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Sarah Teather said a good head teacher was central to a successful school. | Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Sarah Teather said a good head teacher was central to a successful school. |
| "The government is creating the problems of tomorrow by not tackling failing schools today," she said. | "The government is creating the problems of tomorrow by not tackling failing schools today," she said. |