Teachers to tackle GCSEs issues

TdaNews Direct
Published: 8 May, 2008

A number of school leaders have been invited to meet with the government to discuss issues relating to GCSEs.

Schools secretary Ed Balls will speak with councillors involved in education in Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster at a Whitehall summit, in order to discuss ways of boosting results, reports the Sheffield Star.

The meeting will focus on the 638 schools in England, 27 of which are in South Yorkshire, that fell short of the target of achieving a 30 per cent A* to C grade pass rate for at least five GCSEs, including English and maths.

Mr Balls told the paper: "[These schools] need more intensive efforts over the next two or three years to get above the threshold.

"We will set out the range of opportunities available, school by school, with £200 million [in funding] not yet allocated to support that effort."

In related news, Ed Balls announced this week that the government has ordered a review of how dyslexic pupils should be educated, in order to help improve the learning experiences of those with the condition, reports the Guardian.