Minister calls for primary shake-up

EDUCATION chiefs in Devon have been told by Schools Secretary Ed Balls to come up with a plan to improve standards in three Mid Devon primaries.

New league tables revealed that the schools were failing to hit the base target of 55 per cent of pupils reaching level 4 in English and maths national curriculum tests.

The schools highlighted in Mid Devon are: Bampton Church of England Primary School (46 per cent), The Castle Primary, Tiverton (53 per cent) and South Molton United Church of England Primary School (46 per cent).

The move is part of a government drive to improve primaries across the country.

The measures announced by the Secretary of State on Friday, do not put forward sanctions, but focus on support for schools.

Mr Balls wants the council to come up with an action plan by the end of March to improve primaries not making the grade.

In total, 1,472 primaries had fewer than 55 per cent of their pupils achieving the required standard in both subjects this year, up from 1,359 schools in 2008.

Mr Balls said: "Every parent wants their child to go to a good school where they can reach their full potential.

"We know that primary education is vital in setting children up for success later in life and I will not stand by while any child goes to a school where results are persistently low.

"It's now down to local authorities to get all schools making progress all of the time and we are putting in place a package of measures which they can use to help them improve their local schools."

Devon's cabinet member for schools and skills, Christine Channon, said: "For a Government elected 12 years ago committed to education, education, education, it has taken Mr Balls a long time to focus on this.

"The county council has been working hard with all its schools to improve performance and a number of those on this list are enjoying rising standards.

"The Government's own SAT tables saw Devon's schools rise from joint 60th to joint 49th out of 151 local authorities.

"We know that headteachers have been weighed down in so many initiatives and directives by this Government on many issues other than academic standards.

"It might be better if Mr Balls concentrated on encouraging hard-working teachers rather than bringing out the big stick."