National Schools Challenge

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 30 June 2008.

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Photo of Helen Jones Helen Jones PPS (Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State), Department of Health 2:30, 30 June 2008

What support will be available to schools included in the national schools challenge; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Edward Balls Edward Balls Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

We are investing £400 million in the national challenge in the next three years. All schools will benefit from an adviser and special tailored support. We will also be able to fund an additional 70 academies and national challenge trusts for schools most at risk of missing the target. Funding for schools needs to meet the individual circumstances of the school and will be discussed with my Department and the local authority in the coming weeks.

Photo of Helen Jones Helen Jones PPS (Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State), Department of Health

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer, but can he reassure me that his Department will carefully scrutinise the plans produced by local authorities and keep monitoring them to make sure that that level of support continues, and not allow authorities to hide behind saying, as officers told me last week, that their overall results are very good, thereby ignoring huge educational disparities across the borough?

Photo of Edward Balls Edward Balls Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. The national challenge is a challenge school by school. We are determined to make sure that every school gets the support that it needs, and we are asking local authorities to submit plans which we will scrutinise in detail in the coming weeks. This is a challenge for individual schools, but it is also a challenge for local authorities around the country. It is important that they play their part to make sure that we meet the challenge. We have made it clear that, where we do not get satisfactory plans and engagement, we will go back to those local authorities with advice and support. In the end, however, we will take action if we do not think that there is sufficient engagement. I hope that that is not what happens in Warrington and that we can move forward together.

Photo of Annette Brooke Annette Brooke Shadow Spokesperson (Children, Schools and Families), Shadow Minister (Education)

In what ways can the Secretary of State encourage grammar schools to support secondary modern schools in the same local authority if those secondary modern schools, not surprisingly, happen to have fallen into the national schools challenge? If a grammar school has trust status, would that present any obstacles to that support?

Photo of Edward Balls Edward Balls Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

Trust status will prove no obstacle at all. About 40 per cent. of secondary moderns are in that category, which means that 60 per cent. are not. For that 40 per cent., we will give extra support and help. Teaming up with another secondary modern is often the best way to get help and support, but if that can be done in partnership with grammar schools, it will be welcomed by the Department. Indeed, it has already happened in Kent, where the Skinners school is working closely and teaming up with Tunbridge Wells high school precisely to drive up standards and to use best practice and learning and support between the two schools.

We are clear that if grammar schools can play that role they will have our full support. What we do not support is there being more grammar schools. That is something on which I can make a commitment but the Opposition cannot at this time.