Schools told to improve or face closure (From St Helens Star)

Schools told to improve or face closure

1:00pm Tuesday 10th June 2008

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TWO struggling St Helens secondary schools are among hundreds nationally that could face closure if they do not improve.

Newton High and Sutton High Sports College were named on a list of 638 secondary schools across the country targeted because more than 70 per cent of pupils are not achieving five good GCSEs.

If the schools do not improve they could either be closed or replaced by privately-backed academies under a £400 million drive to raise standards of education, it has been announced.

Newton High is already earmarked for closure as part of a merger with St Aelred's Catholic Technology which would create a £33m academy.

A decision on whether the academy will go ahead will be taken by Children's Secretary Ed Balls.

Sutton High Sports College has been told it must improve because only 29 per cent of pupils are getting five GCSEs grade A to C.

Education chiefs in St Helens will be given a 50-day deadline to come up with a rescue plan for the school that is on the Government's hit list.

Mr Balls, meanwhile, is doubling the cash available for the 638 secondary schools in England where more than 70per cent of teenagers fail to get five C grades in their GCSEs.

The "National Challenge" initiative will see an expansion of the controversial academies programme, with up to 313 of the privately-sponsored schools set to be open by 2010.

A St Helens Council spokesperson said: "The Local Education Authority has not been informed that any of its schools are on this list.

"However, even before this announcement was made the LEA had already put in place actions to address issues at both schools.

"A recent Ofsted inspection at Newton High School recorded that it had made significant improvements and, in line with the Government's Academy programme, there are already plans to create a Newton Academy.

"Sutton High only just falls within the Government's target at 29% and a plan is already in place to raise GCSE attainment at the school. We are optimistic that there will be improvements this summer.

"Overall attaining is improving and last year we were above the national average."

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