Councils win powers to improve poor schools

Councils are to be given radical powers to intervene in thousands of schools that appear to be successful but should be doing better.

Local authorities will be able to send hit squads into schools which are thought to be underperforming. They could be turned into trust schools or forced to federate with more successful schools.

The policy marks a U-turn away from Tony Blair's drive to increase school autonomy. Councils currently have the power to intervene in schools where standards are very low or where pupils are thought to be at risk from bad behaviour.

Under the new proposals, these powers will be extended to the bottom 25 per cent of schools but will also include some "coasting" schools with good results.

The plans will spark fears that the Government is trying to push through its controversial proposals to create new trust schools.

Schools judged to be underperforming will be sent "warning notices" by their local authority and will have 15 days to respond with a detailed plan of how they will tackle the problem.

If the school fails to reply or the authority is not convinced by their proposals it will be able to force radical changes. This could include requiring them to federate with other schools or work with other organisations such as trusts.

Councils will also have the power to take control of the school budget or replace the governing body with an interim body or appoint additional governors. Under new guidance from the Department for Education and Skills, which is currently under consultation, they will now have the power to intervene in schools "where the absolute level of attainment is apparently satisfactory ... [but] pupil performance is persistently below levels expected when pupils' prior attainment and the school's context is taken into account".

Schools with poor "value-added" scores for boosting pupil achievement, those in the bottom 25 per cent in exam league tables or with high exclusion or truancy rates, will be eligible for intervention if the problem has existed for more than a year.

In a speech to the annual conference of the NASUWT teaching union in Birmingham this morning, Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Education, will argue that the initiative will "nail the myth" that government reforms will not help the most disadvantaged or will somehow create "ghetto schools". These reforms will benefit those schools who need it most particularly in deprived communities, she will say.

She will argue that many of the federations will be backed up by trusts - the controversial new type of school which will be created by the Education Bill currently going through Parliament. The schools will be given stronger leadership and management, which will bring them new energy and enthusiasm, and an external organisation will be able bring its experience to raise standards.

In her speech she will say: "We have made good progress in reducing the number of failing schools and the average time it takes to turn around a school in special measures. But we know that there are still pupils who are let down by attending poorly performing or failing schools for too long, and schools that do not receive the necessary support and challenge until it is too late.

"Today's announcements nail the myth that our reforms will not help our most deprived communities or disadvantaged schools. This drive will ensure every school is a good school, and for every pupil to achieve their potential."