Taylor Vinters - Solicitors

Published by Alison Gamble

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a raft of new statistics highlighting the state of the UK's secondary schools and education minister Nick Gibb has called for more aid for disadvantaged students to achieve their full potential.

He commented: "We will not hesitate to tackle underperformance in any school, including academies. Heads should be striving to make improvements year on year and we will not let schools coast with mediocre performance."

The data showed just 33.9 per cent of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are achieving five A* to C grade GCSEs including English and maths at present, compared to the national average of 58.2 per cent.

It also revealed that in 399 schools which have more than ten disadvantaged pupils, just 20 per cent are attaining this level of achievement.

As a result, the government has claimed there is a "shocking waste of talent" and it is a situation that will not be tolerated in the future.

However, Mr Gibb claimed there are many examples of schools across the country that are doing all they can help this group to fulfil its potential and therefore, if these schools can get it right, then so can the rest.

"We have introduced a tough new inspection regime targeted at the weakest performing schools and ministers now have clear new powers to intervene when schools are failing," Mr Gibb added.

The news follows an announcement by the DfE that schools across the UK are being given access to a new fund to improve literacy.

A total of £7.7 million of public money is now available for educational establishments to invest in phonics technology aimed at boosting reading levels, with 3,211 schools already signed up training for teachers, as well as resources including books, software and games.

Please contact Christine Berry, Head of Education for further information or call 01223 225281