Scores of West Midland schools were given an ultimatum today to improve their GCSE results or face being closed and turned into academies
They were among 638 schools across England identified as failing by the Government.
Those in which less than 30 per cent of pupils are achieving at least five good GCSEs, including English and maths, are being targeted.
These include nine schools each in Sandwell and Walsall, six each in Wolverhampton and Shropshire, four in Dudley, three in Staffordshire, two in Worcestershire and 27 in Birmingham.
Local authorities have until the start of the summer holidays to produce an action plan to turn their performances around or risk the threat of intervention or closure.
Ministers are doubling the funds to boost the achievements of the country’s worst-performing schools under the £400 million standards drive, which will create up to 70 new academies.
Under the National Challenge programme, targeted schools will be offered a tailored package to help them reach the 30 per cent benchmark pass rate by 2011, including extra funding and resources, expert advice, mentoring from experienced headteachers and assistance from other schools and organisations. Two schools in each of the 10 most deprived areas will also be a part of a £200,000 Extra Mile scheme, linking them with successful neighbouring schools to raise the schools’ and students’ ambitions.
Despite the extra cash, ministers say there is no simple link between deprivation and under-achievement.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls said although the number of secondary schools failing to reach the 30 per cent target had fallen from 1,610 since 1997, there were still too many where pupils were under-achieving.
He said: “With all the support on offer for parents and schools, no child is on a pre-determined path to low results – whatever their background and wherever they go to school.
“Each of these schools faces different challenges in getting up to and over 30 per cent. But I will not hesitate to challenge local authorities to do more for their local schools.”
Schools in the Black Country and Staffordshire at risk include:
Sandwell: Holly Lodge High School College of Science, Bristnall Hall Technology College, The Heathfield Foundation Technology College, Alexandra High School and Sixth Form Centre, St Michaels CofE High School, Wodensborough Community Technology College, Tividale Community Arts College, Menzies High School and Manor Foundation Business and Sports College
Walsall: Willenhall School Sports College, Pool Hayes Arts & Community School, Blue Coat CofE Comprehensive School, Alumwell Business and Enterprise College, St Thomas More Catholic School, Darlaston Community Science College, Shelfield Sports and Community College, Frank F Harrison Engineering College and Sneyd Community School
Wolverhampton: The Northicote School, Moseley Park School, Coppice Performing Arts School, Wednesfield High School, Parkfield High School, Pendeford Business and Enterprise College
Dudley: Castle High School and Visual Arts College, The Coseley School, The Wordsley School and Pensnett High School.
Staffordshire: Paulet High School, Stafford Sports College and Blake Valley Technology College
Worcestershire: Arrow Vale Community High School, Trinity High School and Sixth Form Centre.
12 Comments
will there be any schools left in the west midlands?
And then look at the secrecy which Academies like to shrowd their rich donors with.
Why do people feel the need to donate large sums of moneys to Academies and then stay anonymous? It would be incredibly naive to think they are doing it through altruism. They are more likely to be doing it to have an influence on control over what the children learn, how it is learnt, which staff they employ, and what benefits they can recoup - in the form of advertising and selling products to pupils, parents and staff.
Academies represent the privatisation of schools less via the backdoor than right in front of our noses, yet in the same way that it is difficult to argue against the insipid advertising of Tesco sponsored computer for schools schemes, it is difficult to convince worried parents that Academies are a bad thing, because they are rightly concerned with their local schools being rubbish.
Schools are rubbish because of many reasons. The lack of anonymous, rich donors with questionable motives is not one of them.
Oppose Academies. The Green Party makes it firm policy to oppose them, and Trust schools too. I hear nothing from the Tories or the Lib Dems about fighting the underhand privatisation of our schools.
Readers might notice that a fair few of these establishments under threat are ones that have been forced through the Government’s process of specialisation (Sports, Science and Performing Arts Colleges).
So it could be fair to assume that if one ludicrous change doesn’t work, it couldn’t possibly be a bad decision from Government, therefore it must be the teaching establishments that fail.
Therefore, threatening them with further enforced changes with all the attendant implications must be a great way to retain staff and remove pressure from an over-stretched profession. Mustn’t it?
More arrant stupidity from the aptly named Mr Balls and colleagues
No wonder increasing numbers in the teaching profession are seeking a way out.
I went to Willenhall School Sports College and I didn’t turn out too bad at all!
I left with all my GCSE’s and now work as a manager in international finance and accountancy!
All of my sisters also attended the school and my little sister is still there and she is also doing very well in her studies.
I always thought this school was doing very well and was planning on sending my own children there!
I don’t think i will be changing my plans as i never did too bad going there!
Well thanks Mr Balls for your positive comments on schools in Walsall. As a teacher who works in one of the schools in Walsall I am disgusted at the continued lack of understanding shown continously by politicians. I believe that the most positive way to get results out of people is not to keep beating them over the head particularly when the comments come from people who have never worked in a school. If this was the case then they would understand fully that schools are not just about results but other facets in the development of young people. I would have more respect for Mr Balls (what an appropriate name!) if he attended our school and actually saw the hard work that teachers put in to try and achieve these so called acceptable results.
What rubbish some of this is. My daughter attends Pool Hayes and loves it she has found her purpose since starting there and is determined to up her grades to train to become a vet her real passion in life is animals and their welfare. This school is the first she has attended and actually enjoyed going to.
I feel that Castle High School in Dudley is a fantastic school!!! A school should not be judged simply by exam results there is so much more to education than that. What is the obsession with statistics!!!!! Education should be about helping young people to be the best that they can be its long term nothing prevents them from continuing with education post 16 to gain those worshipped gcse’s!!!!! Schools like Castle High and the dedicated staff should be rewarded and not hounded for their dedication and support for pupils and parents alike!!!!!! My son attends Castle High School and I can only praise the school. Government ministers should really get their head from out of the sand!!!!!
Surely we must question this method of “closing” schools that are apparently failing. I do not believe this. The mehods of measurement change all the time. We are being sold down the river and it is our children who will suffer in the long run. Leave the schools alone to teach our children as they see fit. Is it merely a method of breaking teacher “power” and reducing union influences? Who knows.
I work in a Education Establishment and we are soon to become academy. How can schools be classed as ‘failing’. The school I currently work in, has so many dedicated staff. Surely teachers are not the only ones that should be teaching the students, Teaching starts at home, if parents are in the practice of giving their children a better education, then they arrive at school, with a better insight how education is. I as a child, was drilled education is important and that stayed with me. I am quite lucky and I have done well. If all parents took time to see what our kids were doing, we might get somewhere, and to ensure they have a better future. Thankyou
Me too, I am a caring parent who brought my children up to respect others and work hard at school. My boys when to Blue Coat and were let down by the lack of support from so called hard working teachers! My daughter is currently forced to stay at home from Shelfield College because of bullying. So called hard working teachers couldn’t give a monkeys!!!! Where are all the dedicated teachers cause over a course of 22 years I have only met one, a long standing geography teacher at Blue Coat. Sorry folks thats my experience of schools. This country is letting our children down big time.
Hello, i’m a year 10 pupil that attends Sneyd in Walsall and ive been hearing that Sneyd is one of the schools most at risk. If it does get closed what happens to all the pupils that go there?
I think this is completely out of order. I am in Year 8 at Sneyd Community School this year,have got a level 7 in science, a 6 in English and a 6 in maths. In two years I may not be able to get through my GCSE’s with the grades I want if I have to move schools because it is closed. I have lots of friends at Sneyd, and would hate to loose them, as they don’t live near me and would probably be carted off to a different school than me. I hope the people who want to close Sneyd down see this and notice that no-one wants to leave, and there are some really good students at Sneyd who don’t want to leave yet. At least let the years already at the school get through their GCSE’s and A levels before you close the school.