§ 18. Dr. LadymanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure all schools in selective education authority areas achieve their GCSE performance targets. [50364]
§ Mr. TimmsWe have put in place a support programme targeted at all mainstream secondary schools where fewer than 25 per cent. of pupils gain at least 5 A'-C grades at GCSE including: financial support through the school improvement grant; Excellence in Cities or Education Action Zones; Ofsted monitoring visits; advice and guidance on good practice; a pilot project for trainee head teachers and an Action Research Project involving eight schools facing extremely challenging circumstances.