Specialist support promised for struggling schools

The Department for Education has announced six new Teaching School Hubs, meaning that struggling schools will receive expert support from some of the country’s highest performing schools.

Schools Minister Lord Agnew reported that schools will benefit from a three-year programme of support, with each of the six successful schools acting as a regional hub and will receive funding to support between 200 to 300 other schools in the local area. Support could include delivering tailored professional development for teachers, hosting observations and visits or deploying system leaders to offer advice and guidance to local schools.

The six new hubs will be based in five areas of the country, including North Yorkshire, Sheffield and Devon, and forms part of the government intention to improve school standards, building on the successes of the Teaching Schools and National Leaders of Education programmes.

Lord Agnew said: “It is vital that we back our best school leaders and help them to support struggling schools so that we can continue to drive forward the high standards we are already seeing in schools across the country. These new Teaching School Hubs will make it easier for the best school leaders to share expert advice and help schools in their local communities, ensuring that those schools facing the greatest challenges are supported as simply and efficiently as possible.”