Education strategy to focus on ethnic minorities

A new national strategy launched today aims to lift the achievement of ethnic minority pupils, and will focus on raising standards for black children in school.

Only 30% of all black pupils got five or more good GCSEs (grades A* to C) in 2002, compared to a national average of 51%. Black pupils are around three times more likely than white pupils to be excluded from school, the government has said.

The Aiming High national strategy follows a consultation on minority ethnic education earlier this year.

The strategy includes a scheme focusing on raising achievement of black pupils in 30 secondary schools. Each school will receive resources to free up a senior manager to work on raising black achievement, with advice and support on hand from an expert consultant. Lessons learnt from the pilot scheme will be spread throughout the country.

The strategy will also introduce "a more robust inspection regime" and publication of achievement data by ethnic group and LEA. It will aim to give better support to bilingual pupils by training primary teachers, and set up a national method of assessment to monitor bilingual pupils' progress from foundation stage to secondary school.

Schools Minister Stephen Twigg said that some ethnic children "have been underachieving for too long".

"We have consulted widely, listened to what people have to say on this issue, and developed a clear, strategic approach backed up by extra resources," he said.

"We are making sure that support is given exactly where it is needed so that our work to raise standards in schools benefits all pupils, whatever their background, location or school."

The government will announce funding support for the strategy in the near future.

(gmcg)