News
Tailored place for National Challenge schools agreed
One hundred and thirty seven local authorities around the country have agreed to transform their secondary schools which fall below the GCSE target.
15 January 2009
Number of National Challenge schools down
Only 14 per cent of schools still below Government target, compared with 50 per cent in 1997
14 January 2009
Next steps in nationwide roll out of one-to-one english and maths tuition
A £15 million package will provide one-to-one tuition for children falling behind in English and mathematics in Year 6.
18 December 2008
Ed Balls gives cash boost to National Challenge schools
Over £41 million in National Challenge funding is allocated to 85 local authorities across England as part of the first tranche of £400 million that will be targeted at underperforming schools.
11 December 2008
Next steps for the School Improvement strategy
Local authorities have been asked to identify coasting secondary schools and bid for a new £40 million pot aimed at schools where pupils are not fulfilling their potential.
13 November 2008
Next steps on National Challenge
Ed Balls announces £1million to support gifted and talented pupils in National Challenge schools and has set out details of extra support for National Challenge schools in selective areas.
04 November 2008
Schools keep up the pace of GCSE improvement
Provisional 2007-08 GCSE results show record numbers passing English and mathematics. London schools are achieving above average and the attainment gap is closing between local authority areas.
16 October 2008
Three National Challenge schools to become academies
Ed Balls writes to every school in the National Challenge programme, announcing new resources and three new academy proposals.
13 October 2008
First National Challenge Trusts to transform schools
The first schools to become National Challenge Trusts are announced. Trust school partnerships drive up school standards through new leadership, business partnership and collaboration with successful schools.
24 September 2008
Vision pledges highest ever standards in London's state schools
Minister for London Schools Andrew Adonis today launched a new Vision for London education as he unveiled details of the £80m three year government investment in the next phase of the London Challenge programme.
14 July 2008
Ed Balls addresses the NCSL annual conference
In a speech at the NCSL annual conference, Ed Balls announces a new strategy to support secondary modern schools and talks to head teachers about the National Challenge.
19 June 2008, Birmingham
Ed Balls vows to help secondary moderns
Ed Balls announces plans for the first ever new strategy to help the country’s secondary moderns - including the National Challenge schools who are below the 30 per cent minimum of five good GCSEs including English and Maths.
19 June 2008
National Challenge strategy launched to ensure more children get better GCSEs
Ed Balls sets out the next phase of the Government’s School Improvement Strategy – National Challenge - to transform schools, raise results in English and maths, and tackle underachievement by young people.
10 June 2008
