Stuck Schoools: DfE sets out plans
Understanding 'Stuck' Schools
Stuck Schools: The Government's Intervention Plan
To tackle this challenge, the government has introduced several key measures:
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Establishment of RISE Teams: An initial investment of £20 million is allocated to create Regional Improvement and Support for Education (RISE) teams. These teams will collaborate directly with 'stuck' schools to develop tailored improvement plans, offering up to £100,000 in specialist support per school; a significant increase from the previous grant of £6,000.
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Enhanced Accountability and Intervention: The government plans to double the number of schools subject to mandatory intervention. This includes structural changes such as academy conversions or integration into strong multi-academy trusts. Schools exhibiting serious performance concerns will undergo close monitoring to ensure timely progress.
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Redefining 'Stuck' Schools: The criteria for identifying 'stuck' schools will be updated. Under Ofsted's new guidance, schools that receive an 'attention needed' rating in leadership and governance, coupled with a previous rating below 'good', will be classified under this category. If these schools do not achieve secure ratings in all areas within two years, structural interventions, including potential academisation or re-brokerage, will be initiated.
Challenges and Considerations
While the initiative is ambitious, several challenges need to be addressed:
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Prevalence of Academies Among 'Stuck' Schools: A significant majority - 85% - of 'stuck' schools are already academies, with half being sponsored academies. This raises questions about the current effectiveness of academisation as a sole strategy for improvement.
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Impact of Socioeconomic Factors: 'Stuck' schools are disproportionately located in areas with higher child poverty rates. Approximately 32.7% of these schools are situated in the top quintile for child poverty, compared to just 7.5% in the bottom quintile. This underscores the need for strategies that address broader socioeconomic challenges alongside educational interventions.
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Resource Allocation: Ensuring that the allocated funds are used effectively to bring about sustainable improvements is crucial. Continuous monitoring and support will be essential to achieve the desired outcomes.
Unsticking Stuck Schools
The government's renewed focus on stuck schools represents a significant step towards educational equity. By implementing targeted interventions, enhancing accountability, and providing substantial support, there is the potential to transform these schools and offer better educational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of students. However, success will depend on addressing the wider, underlying socioeconomic issues that are intrinsically linked to the issue, as well as ensuring that interventions are tailored to the unique challenges each school faces.