Let's get radical

This year's secondary school tables show some progress is being made in improving standards in the country's worst performing and most deprived schools – but not enough. The number of schools with 25 per cent or fewer pupils obtaining five A* to C grade passes has dropped from 417 last year to 339. However, progress among those with fewer than 15 per cent getting five good grades is slower – 57 schools as opposed to 65. More radical action is needed here – such as payment incentives to ensure that the best teachers work in the worst-performing schools.

This year's secondary school tables show some progress is being made in improving standards in the country's worst performing and most deprived schools – but not enough. The number of schools with 25 per cent or fewer pupils obtaining five A* to C grade passes has dropped from 417 last year to 339. However, progress among those with fewer than 15 per cent getting five good grades is slower – 57 schools as opposed to 65. More radical action is needed here – such as payment incentives to ensure that the best teachers work in the worst-performing schools.