Tough new "world class" school performance targets achievable with right investment, say heads

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the NAHT heads' union, said today that there was "no reason" to believe that in the long term schools could not reach the ambitious new standards called for today by the think tank Centre Forum.

The organisation, which is chaired by former schools minister David Laws, has today published a report urging the government to bring in tough new targets for schools' GCSE and key stage 2 results, in a bid to raise England's education system to a "world class standard".

20/05/19Kent's best and worst secondary schools based on 2018 GCSE results

Statistics from the Department for Education show how well schools in Kent performed in last year's exams

14/05/19Family jumps to defence of Chilton Primary School in Ramsgate after child escapes under gate

The child was quickly returned to the school and is now safe and well

10/05/19Shrinking break times in English schools 'impacting social skills'

Afternoon break virtually eliminated and older pupils losing over an hour a week, finds study

07/05/19Don't blame teachers for letting down excluded pupils - blame ministers | Gaby Hinsliff

Something is going very wrong for vulnerable kids – but is the school to blame? Schools should be accountable for exclusions, but so should the ministers who have cut vital services

03/05/19Hinds asks heads how to solve special-needs budget squeeze

Schools are facing "knock-on pressure" as demand for special-needs support rises, England's Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, is expected to admit to head teachers later.