Ministers reboot London's 'stuck schools' scheme to tackle results gap in regions

Ministers plan to turbocharge their school improvement programme to tackle regional inequalities as they aim to export the success of London's high-achieving pupils to England's most struggling schools.

- Richard Adams

Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, said her school improvement plan was "taking the best" of the previous Labour government's successful London Challenge, which revolutionised the city's school system, and applying the techniques to flagging schools throughout England.

The move comes as this week's A-level results raised alarm at the widening gap between results in London and regions outside the south-east of England, particularly in the Midlands and the north-east, where improvements in top grades have been stagnant.

The Department for Education is to double the number of schools being supported by its regional improvement for standards and excellence (Rise) programme, which identifies "stuck schools" with repeated poor inspection reports, and transform them through expert assistance from experienced school leaders and partnerships, as well as up to £200,000 over two years in extra funding.

Phillipson said: "This week's exam results were a time for celebration, but they also laid bare the yawning attainment gaps at A-level that continue to cast a shadow over so many areas of the county.