Superheads sent in to rescue schools deemed to be failing are given two years to succeed. If they fail, the school is closed.
At the end of last week, there were fewer than 300 schools under special measures, a substantial reduction from1998‘s peak of 515.
A school requires special measures when it is judged that the school is failing or likely to fail to provide its pupils with an acceptable standard of education.
Crucial elements of the criteria used include the effectiveness of leadership and management, standards of attainment, the quality of teaching, attendance, behaviour and value for money.
The Education Bill now before Parliament proposes to widen the Education Secretary’s intervention powers to include schools with serious weaknesses.
It also plans to allow earlier intervention to help turn schools around more quickly, and a new power to allow a problematic governing body to be replaced by an Interim Executive Board.
Want to keep reading for free?
Register with Tes and you can read five free articles every month, plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.
