TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THURROCK'S FAILURE ON EDUCATION

Thurrock 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 3 schools in Thurrock. 

The National Challenge, launched yesterday, 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. 

"There are 3 schools in Thurrock where less than 30% of young people have achieved A* to C at GCSE including English and Maths. When Labour lost control of Thurrock in 2004 not a single school in our borough was in an Ofsted category" 

"The Labour Government is stepping in to provide extra support for struggling schools and, where necessary, tough action to secure good results.