Education Business

Nearly £7 million of extra funding has been announced to help secure progress at ten National Challenge Trust Schools or National Challenge Federation schools across the country.

A National Challenge Trust aims to transform the school’s performance by harnessing the expertise and energy of a strong education partner.

A National Challenge Federation involves two or more schools coming together under one governing body and sharing the benefits of partnership, including shared teachers, resources and economies of scale.

Ministers have now approved 54 National Challenge Trusts and six National Challenge Federations.

The ten schools and their allocations for the 2009/10 and 2010/11 academic years include Tennyson High School, Lincolnshire, who will receive £841,000, Chase High School, Southend will receive £945,000 and St Pauls Way School, Tower Hamlets will receive £700,000.

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: "National Challenge Trusts are offering schools good opportunities to share their expertise and widen the positive impact they can have for young people."

"With extra funding the government is helping to secure and sustain improvement at National Challenge Trust Schools with extra resources to support and develop leadership teams, focus on maths and English, and help track pupils to ensure they achieve their full potential."

Further information:
DCSF