The failing Stratford grant-maintained school in East London has shown “encouraging signs” of improvement, according to Education Secretary Gillian Shephard, despite her impending decision to replace some of the governors.
Stratford has already reached the normal two-year deadline for improvement but there is no sign that it is to be taken off the list of schools requiring special measures.
Further speculation about its future was provoked earlier this month when Mrs Shephard wrote to the governing body warning that she might replace up to five governors in the interests of unity.
But this week, speaking at a conference staged by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, she denied that Stratford was making unsatisfactory progress, despite a critical inspectors report last spring. Exam results have improved, with the proportions achieving five GCSEs at grades A to C rising from four to 28 per cent of pupils in the past three years. Mrs Shephard would not say how long the school will be given to improve, despite her warnings about a two-year deadline.
“My clear target is that failing schools should recover or at least make very substantial progress within two years of being classified as failing,” she told the conference.
“As the two-year deadline approaches some tough decisions will have to be taken at schools that do not improve.”
Northicote School in Wolverhampton this week became the third school to be removed from the failing category.
