Schools : achieving success

This Education White Paper from the Department of Education and Skills sets out for consultation, proposals to secure the transformation of secondary education in partnership with teachers.

It looks at the issues of: supporting teaching and learning; meeting individual talents and aspirations; promoting excellence, innovation and diversity; interventions to ensure high standards; support for teachers; and modernizing structures.

The Paper proposes that more teachers and support staff are recruited and sets a target for every school to have at least 25 per cent of pupils achieve 5 GCSEs at grade A*-C.

There is also a need to increase the status of vocational education, allowing students to develop their own talents and to develop a coherent strategy that rewards academic and vocational achievement.

Amongst the proposals are: plans for creating more specialist schools and expanding the number of beacon schools, faith schools and city academies; allowing the best schools greater autonomy; and introducing ways for external partners to work with schools.