This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Schools modernisation programme on track
15/02/2006
A progress report on Ambitious, Excellent Schools, the Executive's school reform programme, was published today.
Just over a year after 69 reforms were promised in the programme, more than a half have already been delivered.
Progress on the other reforms is well underway.
Achievements to date include:
- Establishing a new excellence standard for school inspections to encourage all schools to aim higher
- Creating 20 Schools of Ambition, with more to join this year
- Abolishing the 'age and stage' regulations and issuing new advice to schools so that pupils sit exams when the time is right for them
- Introducing new guidelines on devolved school management to strengthen headteachers control over budgets and staffing structures
- Giving primary teachers the freedom to teach in secondary schools and help pupils make the sometimes difficult transition from primary to secondary
- Creating new Skills for Work courses, piloted in construction crafts, sport and recreation, early education and childcare, and financial services.
Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown said:
"The package of reforms set out in Ambitious, Excellent Schools clearly spelt out our agenda: an agenda which recognises the many strengths in our schools and targets action on the challenges.
"Progress has been swift and teachers and pupils are already reaping the rewards in schools up and down the country. But we must make sure there are no barriers to excellence and ambition for all our schools.
"That's why our own ambitions remain high. Many of the reforms which are still underway will deliver even more for our schools. The ongoing curriculum review in particular will, in time, transform learning and teaching in our schools, giving teachers more freedom and pupils greater choice and opportunity."
Ambitious, Excellent Schools was published in November 2004.