TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR KCC’S FAILURE ON EDUCATIONKent Labour has welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will take firm action on low GCSE results and that it is looking at the performance of 33 schools in Kent. The National Challenge, to be launched today, will require every school to have 30% of its pupils or more achieving at least five good GCSEs including English and Maths within three years. Backed up by £400 million, the National Challenge will offer extra funds to schools that are struggling to raise results, along with expert advice, mentoring from experienced head teachers and help from neighbouring schools and external partners. The Government will also be funding a £200,000 initiative specifically aimed at deprived areas in ten local authorities. This initiative, called Extra Mile, will fund partnerships between struggling schools and successful neighbouring schools.National Challenge Trusts, a new type of schools structure, may be set up where schools prove unable to raise their exam results. These projects will be backed by up to £750,000 funding. A new school will re-open instead of the previous failing one, to be run jointly with another high-performing local school and a partner organisation such as a local firm or university. Christine Angell, KCC Labour Shadow Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The Labour Government is determined to close the gap between the highest and lowest-achieving schools nationwide. “There are 33 schools across Kent where less than 30% of young people have achieved A* to C at GCSE including English and Maths. “Kent has the highest number in any single council area of the 638 schools the Government is addressing through its National Challenge. This is largely due to the fact that this county still has a selective education system.“Selective education means that while some grammar schools can coast and achieve good results easily, other non-selective schools serving our most deprived young people can find themselves struggling to raise standards. “The Labour Government is stepping in to provide extra support for struggling schools and, where necessary, tough action to secure good results. “It’s about time that high educational achievement became the right of all Kent’s young people, not just a privileged few”.
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