This Government have placed a high priority on investing in schools. This has led to higher standards and Ofsted have recently confirmed this. There are now 604 high-achieving schools—where 70 per cent. or more pupils gain five good GCSEs—up seven-fold from 83 in 1997.
The New Relationship with Schools enables schools to drive their own improvement, becoming more accountable and autonomous. Schools, with appropriate challenge and support, determine their improvement priorities.
The Primary and Secondary National Strategies support and challenge schools by developing and disseminating good practice in teaching and learning through personalisation and intervention (both at pupil and whole-school level).
Despite a small rise in the number of schools in special measures, the total still remains below 1 per cent. of all schools, and half the number that were in special measures in 1998. The number normally increases at the end of the autumn term when there are more inspections before returning to previous levels in the summer. But we are not complacent and are turning these schools around more quickly. Overall the number of schools failing to get five good GCSEs for a quarter of their pupils has dropped from over 600 in 1997 to 47 today.
We have raised the bar, so that schools which previously would have avoided attention now find themselves in special measures. We make no apology for this tough stance against failing or coasting schools.
The Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners: Maintaining Excellent Progress sets out in more detail the Government’s progress in delivering our ambitious programme of reform. A copy of this document is available in the House of Commons Library.