Greater Manchester Challenge launches with an ambitious agenda

Schools in Greater Manchester will receive a once in a generation opportunity to raise the achievement levels and aspirations of all pupils with the launch of the Greater Manchester Challenge today.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is supporting schools in the region with around £50m over the next three years. Working in partnership with the 10 Local Authorities in the city region, the aim is to achieve a sharp drop in underperforming schools, more outstanding schools and better results for disadvantaged children.

The Greater Manchester Challenge builds on the success and experience of the London Challenge. It will also be part of the National Challenge – the Government’s ambition for no school to have less than 30 per cent of its pupils achieving 5 A*-C grades at GCSE, including English and maths, by 2011.

Speaking at the official launch of the Greater Manchester Challenge at the Lowry Gallery in Salford, Children and Young People’s Minister Beverley Hughes said:

“Greater Manchester is a fantastic region. I know – it’s my home. It’s also a very diverse region, where the challenges and opportunities of the inner city and rural areas meet the challenges and opportunities of a developing modern economy.

“Education here is improving. The proportion of pupils getting 5 good GCSEs has increased by 19 percentage points, and 97 of our schools and colleges have been judged outstanding by Ofsted. But it is not improving fast enough. There are 43 schools that currently fail to meet the baseline target of 30 per cent of pupils achieving five good GCSE’s including English and maths – that is more than 35,000 children and young people. That is not good enough.

“These figures mask dramatic variations between schools and local authorities – there is a 29 percentage point difference between the lowest and the highest performing local authorities for pupils achieving Level 4 and above at 11.

“But there is no good reason for that kind of gap with too many of our children not reaching their potential. I want Greater Manchester to show the rest of the country the way and break the cycle of underachievement. I want it to be a world-leading city-region for education and skills, and for all our young people to have high aspirations and ambitions.

“Every child from every background deserves the chance to achieve as much as they can, and the Challenge is for every one of us – children and young people, parents, teachers, local authorities, the wider community and government – to ensure that this once in a generation opportunity means they get that chance.”

Underpinning the Challenge is a vision that is shared by all the Challenge partners - The 3 As. These are to ensure Access to high quality learning experiences, to raise Aspirations and maximise Achievement for all children and young people across the city region. Focusing on educational standards, side by side with local authority-led drives on integrated children’s services, the Challenge aims to crack the cycle of disadvantage and educational underachievement of the past.

Generating pride in local pupils and schools is an important part of the Challenge. One early event is The Student Awards for secondary schools. Students can enter one of six categories - ICT, drama, creative writing, science, art & design and music - for the chance to win “money can’t buy” experiences provided by award sponsors. Prizes include a day in a recording studio with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and a day out at the Globe Theatre.

Beverley Hughes concluded:

“This is an ambitious agenda but by working together and using local solutions for local, unique problems, I know we can unlock the potential in all our schools and colleges and in all our young people. We owe them nothing less.”

Chief Adviser of the Greater Manchester Challenge, Mel Ainscow, said: “Over the last six months I've talked to many professionals, children and parents across Greater Manchester. It's very clear that everybody is up for the Challenge. The important thing now is to make sure we all get together in making it happen.”

John Merry, Leader of Salford City Counci, speaking on behalf of the Greater Manchester Authorities, said: ''The launch of the Greater Manchester Challenge is fantastic news for children, schools, families and communities. It will provide the whole City Region with the opportunity and resources to make the most of the significant investments that we are experiencing in the area. The investment in learning, along with the innovative and creative approaches that characterise the Greater Manchester Challenge, will really help boost our work in raising educational achievement and ensuring long term, successful and prosperous futures for all of our young people.

"We are all committed to working together to fulfilling the great potential that the Greater Manchester Challenge brings