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Ed Balls to demand action on worst-performing schools
16 Nov 2009Schools Secretary Ed Balls will demand action today to boost standards at some of the worst-performing secondaries in England.
In a letter to the education authorities responsible for the 37 schools, he will urge them to send out the warning notices which can trigger further action, including closure of failing institutions.
And he will suggest that they bid for funding to replace failing schools with academies - revealing that 28 of the planned 100 academy slots for 2010 have not yet been taken up.
The letters come just days ahead of the launch of a new Education Bill in Wednesday's Queen's Speech, which will introduce new powers for parents and communities to demand change in schools and will require councils to conduct annual satisfaction surveys and respond to the concerns they uncover.
The Bill will also set out a series of pupil and parent guarantees on what they can expect from the school system.
Guarantees include one-on-one English and maths tuition for primary school children falling behind at junior level; catch-up support for those who start secondary below the expected level; a personal tutor at secondary school; support for gifted learners; five hours of PE or sport a week; and education or training at 16 and 17.
The 37 schools highlighted in today's letters are among 270 institutions targeted by the £400 million National Challenge programme because they have fewer than 30% of pupils attaining five good GCSEs.
Mr Balls is frustrated because the 32 education authorities involved have not made use of their powers to intervene under the National Challenge scheme, which could result in a school forming a partnership with a successful neighbour, being transformed into an independent academy within the state system or facing closure.
In his letters, he said: "I am concerned that some local authorities are not making proper use of the powers already available to them, for instance using the power to issue warning notices.
"I would expect local authorities to consider issuing a warning notice where it is clear that a school will not be securely above the floor target and sustainably improving by 2011."
Mr Balls said he was "encouraged" by local authorities' growing willingness to implement structural change to shake up school performance.
He said the academy programme had been central to success in turning round schools with entrenched low standards and low aspirations. Academies had improved exam results at a faster rate than other schools and proved popular with parents, he said.
But he revealed that there had not yet been takers for the full slate of academy openings pencilled in for next year.
"We have funding to open up to another 100 academies in place of National Challenge schools in 2010 but, as things stand, some of this funding has still not been taken up by local authorities," he said.
Reader views (7)
I think I've just worked out Labours grand plan for education, if you breed a population of ill educated thugs then they're more likely to vote for the party with the best benefits system/worst judicial system, I wonder who that could be?
- Bob, Cheam, 17/11/2009 09:34
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It is sad to see that three labour governments have utterly failed the young people by still having "failing schools". It cannot simply be down to poor administration can it or have there been too many initiatives?
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France, 16/11/2009 17:24
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Nearly 13 years in power, with Education allegedly a priority, and still Labour can't organise a painting class in a kindergarten.
Why close 'failing' schools? Oh yes, of course, because these same schools happen to be sitting on some prime real estate that can be flogged off to building developers.
The problems in schools run far deeper than pupils ability to read, write and add up. A lot of children come from families with no interest in educating their children and Balls would be better advised to target his attentions on the causes of disruption, rather than closing down a whole school due to a minority.
Or maybe the disruptive ones could be sent to Australia. Seems that was fashionable once upon a time...
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 16/11/2009 12:03
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Tony Blair said when he was about to be elected for the first time "Education, Education, Education" and then what happened? His electors have been let down by a government which does not understand the meaning of education which has been proved by the appointment of "inaspirant Ed". "Inaspirant Ed" has yet to work out there is an aitch in "head". The Secretary of State for Education should at least sound as though he or she has an idea of rudimentary English grammar and should also make an effort to ennunciate the language.In short how can a man like Ed run education when he shows no sign of being or understanding education.
A government which thinks that by closing schools if they do not achieve is to say the least self defeating.Upgrade yes. Closing a school shows that the government is abrogating its responsibilities.Let's go back to the 3 Rs.
- Alexis Dogilewski, London England, 16/11/2009 12:00
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12 years of a lousy NuLieBore government and the skools are not fit for purpose - churning out millions of NEETS who cannot read or write or do simple mathematics.
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 16/11/2009 09:13
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And we demand action on the worse performing government in modern history.
Balls by name ...
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 16/11/2009 08:59
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How many years have Labour been in power and still education isn't right?
- Tojo, Hythe, Kent, 16/11/2009 08:08
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