Help to boost exam results launched in the Black Country

May 12 2008 By Gurdip Thandi

A CHALLENGE to improve underperforming schools has been launched in the Black Country.

Schools minister Jim Knight launched the Black Country Challenge at the New Art Gallery in Walsall.

Through the initiative, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is supporting schools in the region with around £28 million.

Working in partnership with Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, its target is to see a sharp drop in underperforming schools, particularly focusing on English and mathematics, more outstanding schools and significant improvements in the achievements of children in challenging circumstances.

This will be part of the wider regeneration that is happening in the region.

It will also support the National Challenge - the Government's ambition for no school to have less than 30 per cent of its pupils achieving 5 A*-C grades at GCSE, including English and mathematics, by 2011.

An awards scheme will also be launched to offer students a host of prizes including working with the Birmingham Conservatoire, making a film with Iceni Productions and spending a day at the National Physical Laboratory.

Mr Knight said: "I see the Black Country Challenge as the catalyst needed to achieve the best education for all children.

"It is the local authorities, schools, their staff, pupils and parents, supported by the expertise the BCC can harness, which will bring about change.

"Education here is improving. The proportion of pupils getting five good GCSEs has increased by 11 percentage points since 1997.

"But it is not improving fast enough and one of our focuses will be to increase the number of pupils gaining five good GCSEs including English and mathematics."