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Foreword
In November 2004, I set out our agenda for reform in Ambitious, Excellent Schools, the most comprehensive modernisation programme in our schools for a generation.
This package of reforms clearly spelt out our agenda: an agenda which recognises the many strengths in our schools and targets action on the challenges.
The agenda set out five key themes:
- heightened expectations, stronger leadership and ambition
- more freedom for teachers and schools
- greater choice and opportunity for pupils
- better support for learning
- tougher, intelligent accountabilities
Under these we set out 69 commitments. Just over one year on, 39 have been completed and we are well on the way to achieving the rest.
Achievements include:
- a new excellence standard for school inspections
- 20 Schools of Ambition, with more to join this year
- revising the Standard for Headship to strengthen school leadership
- removing barriers between sectors so that primary teachers are free to teach in secondary schools
- flexibility for pupil to sit exams at the right time for them through the abolition of 'age and stage' regulations
- an international benchmarking group with other European countries
At its heart, our agenda is about taking a strong education system and making it even stronger. We need to challenge the unwritten but clear expectations that sometimes limit excellence and ambition. I want to encourage all our schools to gear up their efforts in the pursuit of excellence and we will help them do that.
Peter Peacock,
Minister for Education and Young People
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