FAQs
I have seen stories in the media that say these schools are ‘failing’ and that they will be closed. Does the Department believe that these schools are ‘failing’ schools?
Many of the schools below this threshold are good and improving, with strong and determined leadership. Many face the toughest challenges in our education system. We do not believe that this is a homogenous group, or that they are all ‘failing’, or that a single solution will work for all schools. But we do believe that schools below the floor target will benefit from tailored support that helps them improve opportunities for their pupils.
Where can I find a list of schools in the National Challenge?
We have not published a list of schools below the 30per cent floor target as this will change each year. But attainment data can be found for all schools in the DCSF performance tables.
Are all schools below 30 per cent going to be closed?
No, this is not a school closure programme: it is about school improvement and giving schools extra support and resources to deliver better outcomes for children and young people. We expect the great majority of schools currently below the floor to improve beyond 30 per cent before 2011, and to sustain their improvements.
For some communities, in a minority of cases, closure or merger may be the best option if pupils can get a better education at strong schools nearby. But for most schools, the solution will be to give school leaders the support they need to turn performance around. Wherever possible, this will be about schools helping other schools, with Heads helping Heads.
Why set 30 per cent as a threshold?
30 per cent is a minimum aspiration. We have high ambitions - all children need the skills and qualifications to ensure they have good life chances.
Why is it sometimes quoted as 631 schools when it was originally said that 638 schools were below the 30 per cent floor target?
A figure of 631 is sometimes used in place of 638. This is because you can measure the proportion of pupils who gain five or more GCSEs either on the basis of all 15 year-olds or on the basis of all pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Both figures are included in the school performance tables and, for most schools, they are the same. There are only four schools that fall below the threshold on the end of key stage measure but not on the measure of 15 year-olds.
From 2008 attainment data onwards, we will measure progress against Key Stage 4 results for all pupils, just as we do for PSA targets. However, our PSA targets up to 2007 measured attainment on the basis of all 15-year-olds. The exact number of schools below the threshold will of course change each year when fresh attainment data is released, and schools just above the line but on an unstable trajectory are just as critical.
