Nearly 100,000 more children in underperforming schools will benefit from targeted support as the Department for Education rolls out the next phase of its RISE school improvement teams, part of a wider effort to raise education standards and empower parents.
From this term, RISE teams – made up of 65 expert advisers – will nearly double their reach, supporting 377 schools and over 200,000 pupils in total. These teams work with schools that have received consecutive poor Ofsted ratings, helping to improve teaching quality, curriculum planning, and pupil outcomes.
The expansion coincides with major reforms to school accountability and transparency, including:
- Ofsted replacing single headline grades with detailed report cards
- A new online benchmarking tool for headteachers to compare performance with similar schools
- Introduction of school profiles for parents, offering a complete picture of local school performance
New data shows that only 43% of pupils in RISE-supported primary schools met expected standards in reading, writing, and maths in 2024, compared to 62% nationally. Behaviour and attendance challenges are also more pronounced, with suspension rates twice as high and persistent absence at 34.9% in supported secondary schools.
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, commented:
“Every child deserves a brilliant education – and that means a system that’s relentlessly focused on strong accountability that puts children first.
“New school report cards will raise the bar for standards across the board, shining a light on what’s working and where change is needed. By providing a fuller picture of school performance – from attendance and behaviour to inclusion – we’re giving parents the transparency they deserve and schools the tools to improve.
“From school inspection to new technology, to experts who have been there and done it – through our Plan for Change we will use every lever we can to boost the life chances of our children and ensure aspiration is not just the preserve of some, but the right of each and every young person, wherever they grow up.”
The government will also consult on extending RISE support to schools with the lowest attainment, and continue converting the worst-performing schools to academies. Combined, these measures are expected to double mandatory interventions compared to previous years.
The reforms form part of the upcoming Schools White Paper, which will set out a bold vision for improving outcomes, especially for pupils with SEND and those from white working-class backgrounds.
Image credit: iStock
