New youth centre for Kings Cross to give vulnerable young people a safe place of their own

23 February 2010

A youth centre to help some of London's most vulnerable young people was re-opened today in Kings Cross by Schools Minister Vernon Coaker and television news presenter Jon Snow.
The New Horizons youth centre has undergone a complete refurbishment following a £1.5 million investment through the Government's myplace scheme, and £220, 000 from other funders.

New Horizons, in the centre of Kings Cross, will help young people in the area who have been exposed to dangerous lifestyles from an early age.The centre will give them a safe place to go and deliver a range of high-quality services, including IT and accredited training, counseling and support, sports and music, youth activities and services responding to the most vulnerable in society

New Horizons is the second 'myplace' centre to open in England and up to 10 projects are expected to be opened by the end of this summer.

New 3 Rs guarantee and support for pupils falling behind

04 January 2010

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Schools Secretary Ed Balls will today announce a new guarantee (which comes into effect in September 2011) for pupils in Key Stage 1 (KS1) to ensure pupils in their first few years at primary make a flying start in reading and numbers helping them to progress through school.

The KS1 guarantee, which comes into effect in September 2011, means that where a 6-7 year old child is falling behind, the school will notify the parents and inform them of what, they as parents, can do to help their child and what additional support the school will provide, including through small group and one-to-one tuition where appropriate, to help their child catch up. £50m over two years is to be given to help deliver this guarantee and pay for more one-to-one support

Given the high representation of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds in the underperforming group of pupils at Key Stage 1, the £50m to fund the Key Stage 1 guarantee will be allocated from funding earmarked for breaking the link between deprivation and attainment.

Ed Balls also announced that all looked after children between the ages of 7 and 11 will get automatic guaranteed one-to-one tuition as an independent report finds that personal tuition has a positive impact on progress.

Groundbreaking internet safety strategy launched

08 December 2009

The first ever internet safety strategy, 'Click Clever Click Safe', was drawn up by the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) and will be launched by the Prime Minister at the first UKCCIS Summit in London today.

New research published today also shows that 18 per cent of young people said they had come across harmful or inappropriate content online, with 33 per cent of children said their parents don't really know what they do on the internet.

The strategy will mean:

That for the first time ever, internet companies, charities and the Government will be independently reviewed against new UKCCIS standards to keep children and young people safe online.
Young people and parents will be targeted by a new Digital Code 'Zip it, Block it, Flag it' - the 'Green Cross Code' for internet safety. This will be adopted by retailers, social networking sites, schools and charities and displayed where appropriate.
Parents will be able to access a one-stop shop website for internet safety advice hosted by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP).
From September 2011 online safety will be a compulsory part of the curriculum from age 5.
Professor Tanya Byron will review the Council's progress, beginning in January 2010.

£900 million to help school improvement

04 December 2009

Plans to help primary schools improve - how others can learn from great schools and encouraging the best primary heads to support other schools in strong partnerships.

Ed Balls today set out the support local authorities and schools will receive for school improvement totalling £900 million and including £315 million available for 1-to-1 tuition for pupils falling behind in English and maths as part of a package of measures to ensure every child can succeed.

The support package to enable local authorities to do this will include funding for school improvement to help outstanding schools become part of supportive partnerships with strong schools which could then become Accredited Schools Groups.

The support available to local authorities as part of the World Class Primaries programme adds up to £50 million of new money over the next two years including:

£23.6 million for the Improving Schools Programme, which has been extended to reach 500 additional schools in another 40 local authorities
£4 million on National Leaders in Education - outstanding super-heads with past experience of turning schools around - to work alongside other heads to help solve problems within their schools
£8 million for additional School Improvement Partner time - where a local expert advises heads and governors on how to raise standards, and has the skills set the school needs
£6 million for Leading Teachers - experienced and specialised teachers who coach other teachers in the core subjects

The department also published today a roadmap for all schools on how to deliver the schools White Paper published in June.

Securing the schools system for the future

26 November 2009

Children's Secretary Ed Balls today called for a new drive in schools and local authorities about investing public money effectively, while securing frontline services post-2011.

Mr Balls also announced that he would invest £12m in new 'smart' meters to give schools real-time digital information about their electricity use from January next year to help children learn about climate change, carbon reduction and at the same time helping with financial management.

Headteachers, governing bodies, Schools Forums and local authorities needed to work closer together urgently to plan properly for the coming years.

Mr Balls said that it was not for ministers to micromanage individual heads' budgets but he pointed to a discussion document, Securing Our Future - Using Our Resources Well, published today, which sets out four main areas which finances could be run more efficiently -

Greater value for money from sharper procurement, collective buying and better use of technology.
Greater efficiency through the wider adoption of partnerships and shared services between schools.
Stronger strategic financial planning - including through greater use of School Business Managers and more effective financial management skills.
More effective use of external advice, already available, in strengthening financial management - and setting out a clear future role for central and local government and expert School Improvement Partners in supporting frontline delivery.

Mr Balls urged schools to use the support available now to help them make the right financial and investment decisions.

University sites 'fail disabled'

17 August 2009

Some UK universities are failing to provide accessible accommodation or facilities to disabled students, an investigation has found.

A report by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign suggests one in 10 disabled students were not be able to live or eat on university sites.

About 40% of the 78 institutions surveyed did not have rooms for carers, resulting in students living at home. Universities UK says disabled students benefit from a wide range of support.

The report, by the charity's Trailblazers nationwide network of 16-30 year olds, questioned universities across the UK. Almost all said they could provide support in lectures or seminars for students with mobility difficulties.

But only four universities said that every one of their buildings had a fully accessible toilet for disabled students. Some 40% of universities said they did not provide a particular prospectus aimed at students with disabilities

Most, but not all, universities said they ran a disability equality scheme.

The next steps in Building Schools for the Future programme

15 July 2009

Six local authorities have been given the green-light for their Building Schools for the Future programmes (BSF), Schools Secretary Ed Balls announced today.

Barnet, Bolton, Hampshire, Peterborough, Sunderland and Wigan are the first in a series of 'rolling starts' for the remaining 70 local authority projects yet to join BSF and follow-up projects in existing BSF authorities.

These projects have been assessed as fully ready to deliver and will join more than 1000 individual building, rebuilding or renewal BSF projects already under way across 80 local authorities in England.

Mr Balls also announced another six local authority projects will join the programme in three months time and another six in the last quarter of the 2009-10 - maintaining the current pace of delivery.

Nation Challenge - More support to raise standards in schools

13 May 2009

Schools Secretary Ed Balls today announced £45 million funding for National Challenge Schools from September to continue the support schools are getting to continue raising standards in the next academic year.

Ed Balls also announced his approval of a further five National Challenge Trust Schools, in addition to the 16 already approved. These are: Sinfin School in Derby, George Mitchell School in Waltham Forest, Chase School in Southend on Sea, Bexleyheath School in Bexley, and Parklands High School in Liverpool.

The number of National Challenge schools - where fewer than 30 per cent of pupils get five good GCSEs including English and Maths - has come down to 440 compared to more than 630 last year, 783 two years ago and 1,600 in 1997. This means that we are on track to have no school below the 30 per cent by 2011.

National Challenge schools - those at the forefront of breaking the link between deprivation and attainment - have been benefitting from tailored support such as 1-2-1 tuition for pupils, learning mentors, extra revision support and plans to address pupil disengagement.

All schools should link up with the Police to help tackle youth crime and improve communities

11 May 2009

All schools throughout England should sign up to Safer School Partnerships to support young people, improve community safety and tackle crime, said Ed Balls the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Jacqui Smith the Home Secretary.

A recent survey of police forces suggests there are now over 5000 schools that are part of Safer School Partnerships (SSPs), which is ten times more than previous estimates. The ACPO survey indicates that approximately 20 per cent of primary schools and 45 per cent of secondary schools in the country are involved in some sort of SSP provision or other similar formal arrangements with the police.

Updated guidance launched today by the Government, ACPO and the Youth Justice Board will help teachers, police and communities set up SSPs - a formal agreement between the school, police and other agencies to work together to keep young people safe and improve behaviour. This builds on actions outlined in the Youth Crime Action Plan last year to support schools in preventing and tackling crime, racism, violent extremism, weapons, illegal drugs and gang culture.

Findings of the most fundamental review of the Primary Curriculum in a decade

30 April 2009

ICT joins English and maths as centre piece of new primary curriculum
Extra training for teachers
New focus on speaking and listening
Personal development to be key to raising standards
Summer born children can start school in the September after their fourth birthday

Education expert Sir Jim Rose today published the findings of the most fundamental review of the primary curriculum in a decade, and a series of recommendations to modernise it for 21st century pupils.

Ed Balls had asked Sir Jim to propose a curriculum which would inspire life-long learning while reducing prescription and giving teachers greater flexibility.

He was asked to look particularly at how primary schools could develop children's personal skills to help them achieve academically as well as how to smooth pupils' path between early years and primary, and into secondary school.

For the first time ever the proposed curriculum will set out what children should learn in three phases - taking them seamlessly from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1, and from primary to secondary education. The three phases show explicitly how the curriculum broadens and deepens to reflect children's different but developing abilities between the ages of five and 11.

Supporting children with special educational needs is vital to break the link between attainment and disadvantage so every child can succeed

29 April 2009

(Ed Balls): To break the link between attainment and disadvantage so every child can succeed we must do more to support every child to overcome any barriers to their learning.

He will say that to keep on raising standards for all children there needs to be a greater focus on early intervention and support for children who have special educational needs and personalised learning for those who fall behind so all children can achieve their potential.

The Children's Secretary accepted the recommendations of expert Brian Lamb, who has called for a major shift in the way schools and local authorities work with parents of children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Personal Social health and Economic Education should be compulsory

28 April 2009

Accepting the findings of an independent review led by Sir Alasdair Macdonald, Ed Balls today confirmed his intention to make Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education a compulsory part of the curriculum at both primary and secondary school.
Ministers announced in October their intention to make PSHE compulsory, subject to Sir Alasdair's report.

He has said that throughout the consultation with parents, schools, faith groups, expert groups and young people themselves, enormous support has been expressed for the introduction of compulsory PSHE.

The expectation is for PSHE to become compulsory from September 2011.

The report has addressed issues around increased pressure on the curriculum, schools' right to determine their own approach to Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) as part of PSHE and the rights of the very small number of parents who wish to withdraw their children from SRE.

Ofsted to survey independent schools' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developments of pupils

09 March 2009

Ed Balls, has asked Ofsted to carry out a survey of independent faith schools to examine how they are meeting the Independent Schools Standards relating to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils.

The purpose of the survey is to ensure that the current regulations for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils are fit for purpose in preparing children and young people for life in modern Britain.

The purpose of the survey will be to determine whether the current regulations are fit for purpose in preparing children and young people for life in modern Britain.

The review will include consideration of the ethos and values of the school and the influences pupils are subject to:

Through the curriculum
Extended school activities
Through links with external organisations

The small survey will consider evidence from a sample of schools, drawn from all parts of the independent sector that have sought religious designation from Department for Children, Schools and Families.

New diplomas in humanities, science and languages filled with opportunities for practical learning

09 February 2009

Academic experts set out the proposed content for the new Diplomas today, which will combine academic rigour with practical learning in humanities, science and languages.

The draft content for the 'Phase 4' Diplomas, published for consultation today, has been led by Diploma Development Partnerships, comprising academics, subject experts, business representatives and employers and illustrates how the qualifications will give learners knowledge and understanding of the subjects, alongside real life, hands-on skills.

Thanks to the new programmes of study available from 2011, students will learn skills such as:

How to speak a foreign language and how to take part in business meetings in a foreign language
Study how species interact and ecosystems change and set up a conservation programme or recycling scheme and examine its environmental impact
Getting involved in a local policy issue, like the development of a new hospital and understand how to make it happen

£9 million investment in phonics training

26 January 2009

Children's Secretary Ed Balls today confirmed £9m of funding for training to develop high quality phonics in early years settings and primary schools, as part of the Government's drive to ensure every child learns to read.

In the new financial year the remaining 51 local authorities will join the existing 100 already engaged in the highly successful Communication, Language and Literacy Development programme, that has been designed to implement Sir Jim Rose's recommendations on early reading. This £9m commitment means every area will have a specialist advisor training and supporting early years practitioners and primary school teachers. The Government is separately funding Leading Literacy Schools to ensure newly qualified teachers (NQTs) get the best possible training in the use of phonics from this year.

Tailored plans for national challenge schools agreed

15 January 2009

One hundred and thirty seven local authorities around the country have now agreed plans with the Government to transform their secondary schools which fall below the target of 30 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C GCSEs, including English and Maths, Ed Balls announced today.

Around £52 million of the £400 million has now been allocated to schools for school improvement strategies - such as extra teachers and teaching assistants; middle and senior leadership improvements; and help for individual pupils.

Number of national challenge schools down / academy exam results up

14 January 2009

Ed Balls has welcomed new statistics which show the number of National Challenge schools - where fewer than 30 per cent of pupils get 5 good GCSEs including English and Maths - has come down to 440 compared to more than 630 last year and 783 two years ago.

That means only about 14 per cent of schools are still below the Government target, compared with around 50 per cent which missed the threshold in 1997 - approximately 1,600 schools.

The Government is investing £400m in total in the National Challenge until 2011. Around £52 million of this has now been allocated to schools for school improvement - such as extra teachers and teaching assistants; middle and senior leadership improvements; and help for individual pupils.

Today's statistics also show that academies are leading the way in reducing low attainment - and so are a key element of the National Challenge. For the 36 academies with results in both 2007 and 2008 there has been an increase of 11.5 percentage points in the 5 A* to C figure, more than double the national increase. When looking at 5 A* to C (including English and maths) the increase is 4.3 percentage points, compared to 2.5 percentage points nationally.

Comparing the 62 Academies with results in 2008 to their predecessor schools in 2001, there has been a 32.3 percentage point improvement in the 5* A to C figure (nearly twice the national figure). Including English and maths, the figure has doubled from 14.9 per cent in 2001 to 29.7 per cent this year - an increase of 14.8 percentage points compared to the national figure of 10.3 percentage points.

The Government had previously planned to open 55 Academies a year in 2009 and 2010, taking the total to 243. Additional funding provided by National Challenge means:
Up to 70 additional Academies (25 in 2009 and 45 in 2010); and 70 National Challenge Trusts, each receiving up to £750k over 3 years (or £1m in the case of Secondary Moderns).

London schools achieve another year of improved GCSE results

14 January 2009

Minister for London Schools, Sarah McCarthy-Fry, today congratulated London schools for achieving another year of record GCSE results.The percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more good grades at GCSE including English and maths has outstripped the national rate of improvement increasing by 2.7ppts over last year from 47.9% to 50.6% and up by around 20ppts since 1997, compared to around 15ppts nationally. London is ahead of the national average for the fourth year running - 48.3% of pupils nationally achieved this benchmark.

GCSE figures reveal that 65% of London pupils in maintained schools achieved 5 or more good GCSE passes in 2008, an increase of 4.1ppts over last year. Results in the capital are rising year on year with dramatic improvements in inner London, where results have more than doubled since 1997.

To celebrate these achievements, students from some of London's most improved schools will attend a "Shining Stars" event on Thursday night at the Royal Observatory Greenwich's Peter Harrison Planetarium. Guests will be treated to a private viewing of the observatory galleries; a glittering reception attended by London-born Eastenders' star and winner of I'm a Celebrity, Joe Swash, followed by a tailor-made Planetarium show Star Life.

New push for safer schools partnerships

02 January 2009

Schools, police and local agencies are being encouraged to sign up to Safer School Partnerships and work more closely together to keep schools and pupils safe and reduce anti-social behaviour.

As part of the Youth Crime Action Plan, published in July this year, the Government committed to making Safer School Partnerships (SSP's) the norm rather than the exception in schools. To give local areas help and information about safer school partnerships the Department will be holding a series of conferences which continue in the New Year. So far 5000 schools have signed up to SSP but we still need more schools across the country to get on board.

For Safer School Partnerships to work and successfully embed in schools we need everyone to be signed up to them - Government, Police, Local Authority children's services, school heads and the school governing bodies all working in partnership.

Evaluations have shown that SSP's are proving effective in improving behaviour and attendance, and they can really help reduce the risk of pupils getting drawn into crime or antisocial behaviour either as perpetrators or victims.

Almost £46 million for services for children and families

24 December 2008

More than 100 voluntary sector organisations have been awarded funding as part of a £46 million fund over the next 2 years designed to improve the life chances of children and young people.

Children's Minister Delyth Morgan announced the programme which will provide funding for essential services, such as support for play facilities, young carers, youth homelessness services and relationships and parenting help. From 2006 to 2011, the Children, Young People and Families grants programme will have awarded £134 million in total to over 250 organisations.

Today's announcement is a further evidence of the Department's support for the third sector. This has included over £400m for increasing the reach of existing youth facilities and building additional capacity in the Youth Sector, help for Young Carers and Entry into Learning. Additionally £12m was recently announced for implementing the recommendations in the Bercow Review, much of which the third sector will deliver.

£800m schools capital investment to be accelerated

24 November 2008

Hundreds of school modernisation projects are to start next year after the Government announced it was accelerating up to £800 million capital investment by 12 months.

Today's Pre-Budget Report announced that funding originally earmarked for the Primary Capital Programme (PCP) and three other capital programmes in 2010-11 is now available in 2009-10.

Overall schools capital spending has risen seven-fold in real terms over the last decade - up from under £700m in 1997 to £6.67billion this year. Today's announcement adds to the £7.02 billion capital investment already being pumped into schools next year.

All 150 local authorities in England are being asked to identify building and refurbishment spending which can be brought forward - with the funding being released from April 2009.
Any accelerated spending will be taken off the 2010-11 local authority allocations.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls said:
"It's very good news for the construction industry and small businesses across the country that we are boosting the economy by accelerating capital investment in schools over the next 12 months.

"This decision means that building or refurbishment projects, particularly in primaries, already costed, designed and ready to go can now start as soon as possible. It also means that local authorities can get even more value for money from current, larger projects by extending them with this funding advance."

New generation of primary schools get the green light

12 November 2008

Ministers give go-ahead to Primary Capital Programme funding from April 2009
First steps toward rebuilding or refurbishing half of all primaries within 15 years
More than 1500 primary school building projects get go ahead

A new generation of primary schools got the green light today after the Government approved building plans worth £3.55billion.

Ed Balls confirmed that more than 1,500 planned rebuilding and refurbishment projects in England could now start after ministers gave the go-ahead to 133 local authorities' primary capital strategies.

A further 15 local authorities will get tailored, expert advice to get their plans up to speed within three months to enable funding to be released

It means that the Government will release £1.75billion of funding to local authorities for the Primary Capital Programme with local authorities investing a further £1.8billion. That's on top of the £150m already being invested in 23 pilot local authorities in 2008-09.

It means that the Primary Capital Programme, which is investing at least £7billion to rebuild or refurbish half of all primary and primary-age special schools by 2022-23, will now start in earnest.

Over 700 primary schools which have been rebuilt or completely refurbished since 1997 thanks to annual capital investment rising eight-fold in real-terms by 2011 - from under £700m a year in 1997 to over £8billion in three years time.

Ed Balls said: "This is a once-in-a-generation chance to transform primary education in every part of the country - to sweep away buildings now reaching the end of their shelf life and drive up the quality of our schools."

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