The Government says its policy of "naming and shaming" failing schools in England is producing results.

Six months after naming 18 "seriously failing" schools, ministers are delivering a progress report showing that at least 10 of the schools have made real improvements, although others still face closure.

"Eighteen of them were making such very poor progress that emergency action had to be taken," said the Education Secretary, David Blunkett.

Tough rules help schools improve

"And for the vast bulk of those schools it's meant in some cases dramatic, in others reasonable progress, which allows us today to celebrate the fact that it has worked," he added.

Of the 18 schools, it is expected that four will be off the failing list. Ten others have made "reasonable progress" or have planned major changes, such as naming new head teachers.

The remaining four are still seriously failing. One school is due to close this summer and two others are under review to be closed.

The Government announced the programme of "naming and shaming" failing schools just weeks after the May 1 General Election.

It was a political move intended to show ministers would be tough on failure, which infuriated many teachers.

The Government will argue that these results vindicate its policy of highlighting failure. But many teachers believe the programme only delayed improvement at some schools which were already on the mend.
 

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