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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Coasting schools told to improve | Coasting schools told to improve |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of schools in England classed as satisfactory by inspectors could do better, ministers say, and are to be urged to stretch their pupils more. | Hundreds of schools in England classed as satisfactory by inspectors could do better, ministers say, and are to be urged to stretch their pupils more. |
| Schools Secretary Ed Balls has identified what he calls "coasting schools", where pupils should do better given their abilities when they enrol. | Schools Secretary Ed Balls has identified what he calls "coasting schools", where pupils should do better given their abilities when they enrol. |
| He is to set out a policy designed to push such schools. | He is to set out a policy designed to push such schools. |
| Head teachers say they do not want schools to be vilified and hope the new strategy will support improvement. | Head teachers say they do not want schools to be vilified and hope the new strategy will support improvement. |
| The plans will be outlined by Mr Balls, who will also give a progress report on the National Challenge - the drive to improve schools where fewer than 30% of pupils achieve five good GCSEs including maths and English. | The plans will be outlined by Mr Balls, who will also give a progress report on the National Challenge - the drive to improve schools where fewer than 30% of pupils achieve five good GCSEs including maths and English. |
| It is understood the government believes there are as many as 500 secondary schools in England which are "coasting", potentially letting down half a million pupils. | It is understood the government believes there are as many as 500 secondary schools in England which are "coasting", potentially letting down half a million pupils. |
| No 'name and shame' | No 'name and shame' |
| There was an outcry earlier this year when the government published a list of the worst-performing schools targeted in the National Challenge. | There was an outcry earlier this year when the government published a list of the worst-performing schools targeted in the National Challenge. |
| Some of the schools listed - or their supporters - complained they were being pilloried even though they were improving. | Some of the schools listed - or their supporters - complained they were being pilloried even though they were improving. |
| It is thought officials do not want to provoke a similar outcry this time and will not "name and shame" schools. | It is thought officials do not want to provoke a similar outcry this time and will not "name and shame" schools. |
| The schools they have in their sights are those which might typically have 30% to 50% of pupils achieving five good GCSEs including maths and English. The national average is 47%. | The schools they have in their sights are those which might typically have 30% to 50% of pupils achieving five good GCSEs including maths and English. The national average is 47%. |
| I hope the government will introduce this strategy in a way that avoids the vilification of a list of schools said to be coasting Dr John Dunford, ASCL | I hope the government will introduce this strategy in a way that avoids the vilification of a list of schools said to be coasting Dr John Dunford, ASCL |
| Crucial is how much progress children make between the age of 11 and the time they sit their GCSEs or vocational equivalents. This is calculated as "Contextual Value Added" (CVA), a measure which compares a school against other schools with similar intakes. | |
| The government wants to target those with "neutral or negative" CVA. | The government wants to target those with "neutral or negative" CVA. |
| At some schools, for example, pupils might arrive with Level 4 attainment (the expected level for someone leaving primary school) but not progress beyond that level by the age of 14. | At some schools, for example, pupils might arrive with Level 4 attainment (the expected level for someone leaving primary school) but not progress beyond that level by the age of 14. |
| Officials believe many coasting schools are in rural areas or suburbs. | Officials believe many coasting schools are in rural areas or suburbs. |
| Local authorities will be asked to identify such schools and agree action plans with them, which could then attract financial or practical support from central government. This could be in the form of money for training teachers on how best to track of pupils' progress, or in terms of experts being brought in to advise on improvements. | Local authorities will be asked to identify such schools and agree action plans with them, which could then attract financial or practical support from central government. This could be in the form of money for training teachers on how best to track of pupils' progress, or in terms of experts being brought in to advise on improvements. |
| Money per school would probably be in the realms of "tens of thousands", it is understood. | Money per school would probably be in the realms of "tens of thousands", it is understood. |
| One key way officials believe schools could improve would be to put them in a federation with other schools, with the aim of spreading "best practice". | One key way officials believe schools could improve would be to put them in a federation with other schools, with the aim of spreading "best practice". |
| Dr John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "I hope that the government will introduce this strategy in a way that avoids the vilification of a list of schools said to be coasting. | Dr John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "I hope that the government will introduce this strategy in a way that avoids the vilification of a list of schools said to be coasting. |
| "If, on the other hand, the government is developing a strategy to help under-performing schools improve, then that would have the support of the schools, the teachers and the parents." | "If, on the other hand, the government is developing a strategy to help under-performing schools improve, then that would have the support of the schools, the teachers and the parents." |
| Steve Munby, head of the National College for School Leadership said: "Great schools need great school leadership. No head teacher will be happy to simply 'coast' along. We believe that heads want their schools and their pupils to accelerate not coast. | Steve Munby, head of the National College for School Leadership said: "Great schools need great school leadership. No head teacher will be happy to simply 'coast' along. We believe that heads want their schools and their pupils to accelerate not coast. |
| "This programme should not simply label and categorise schools like produce on a supermarket shelf. It must allow great schools and heads to spread their influence further." | "This programme should not simply label and categorise schools like produce on a supermarket shelf. It must allow great schools and heads to spread their influence further." |