National Challenge
The National Challenge is a programme of support to secure higher standards in all secondary schools so that, by 2011, at least 30 per cent of pupils in every school will gain five or more GCSEs at A*-C, including both English and mathematics.
According to the 2007 performance tables, there were 638 secondary schools in England below this floor target. The following information is a summary of plans to support Jarrow School.
Raising standards
The staff and students of Jarrow School have made significant progress in raising standards in a number of areas, however the school is aware that it has work to do in further raising standards in English and mathematics.
To complement the work that the staff at the school are doing to improve standards, the council have agreed a support plan with the school. This plan is linked to the school's Raising Achievement Plan and will be closely monitored for impact by a newly appointed National Challenge Adviser.
The National Challenge Adviser will work with the leadership of the school to advise and give guidance on improving teaching and learning, and leadership and management, as well as monitoring the progress the school is making. The Department of Children, Schools and Families has agreed funding of £64000 to support the delivery of the improvement plan, and includes funding 20 days of National Challenge Adviser time to work with the school.
English, mathematics and science
The Local Authority Teaching and Learning Advisers will work with the school to identify target groups of underachieving students, devise and develop programmes to improve teaching and learning and revision programmes to support groups of students as they approach tests and exams.
They will also work with the school to continue the development of the newly revised secondary curriculum and support the development of assessment across the school.
Attendance
The Local Authority Inclusion team is working with the school to develop and implement individual attendance plans and develop strategies to improve attendance.
