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Kelly: No room for complacency

Kelly: No room for complacency

Education secretary Ruth Kelly has said she would not allow middle ranking schools across the country to continue “coasting” and warned them they must reform.

Speaking to the Specialist Schools Trust last night, Ms Kelly insisted: “No change – or slow change – must no longer be an option.”

Her comments pave the way for the government’s white paper on education this autumn, which she claims would introduce radical measures to raise standards in all schools.

Government plans will see secondary schools receive “improvement partners” whereby experienced head teachers would be brought in to advise on improving exam results, while heads would also receive more autonomy.

“I know that many of you want that autonomy. You want to be able to employ your own staff, to own your own land and buildings, to be responsible for statutory proposals for changes to the school. We can act now,” Ms Kelly said.