Fewer schools fail GCSE challenge

THE number of struggling schools in Oldham where pupils are not getting five good GCSEs has fallen.

Under the National Challenge initiative, every school in the UK must have at least 30 per cent of its pupils getting five C grades at GCSE, including English and maths, by 2011.

Last year there were five schools in the borough which fell below the 30 per cent threshold, but analysis of last month’s GCSE results show only three now remain below the mark.

Early analysis of results show they are Breezehill, Kaskenmoor and Grange, but formal confirmation will not be available until later in the year.

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: “Breaking the link between deprivation and low educational achievement are what the National Challenge, City Challenge and academy programmes are all about.

“This is one of the biggest tasks facing our education system and we know the National Challenge programme and the academies programme are really working to turn around under-performance.

“All pupils deserve the chance to go to a good school where they can fulfil their potential and I believe our radical school improvement policies will help us achieve this.”

Nationally, there are now 270 schools below the National Challenge threshold. The number of schools below the minimum standard has dropped nearly 40 per cent from 440 last year — the largest drop since 1997. This was down from 631 in 2007 and around 1,600 in 1997.

In 1997 around half of all schools had less than 30 per cent of pupils attaining five good GCSEs including English and maths. The figure is now less than one in 10.

Schools secretary Ed Balls said the programme was on track to achieve its target by 2011.

He said: “I want to congratulate local authorities, schools and pupils across the country on the great progress they have made.

“Schools and academies have responded positively to the extra support the National Challenge programme has given them. Many schools facing challenging circumstances find this extra support can make all the difference when coupled with their drive and determination to improve.”

Formal results for each local authority will be published by the Government in the autumn and an individual school breakdown in January.