Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

National Challenge

What is National Challenge?

The National Challenge scheme was launched by the Government in June 2008. It aims to secure higher standards in secondary schools to ensure that at least 30% of pupils in every school gain five or more GCSEs at A*-C, including both English and Maths. Nationally £400 million has been committed to the scheme until 2011 and Stockton-on-Tees pupils will benefit from £407,000 of this investment.

How will the National Challenge Scheme help young people in Stockton-on-Tees?

A National Challenge Advisor will provide twenty days support to Thornaby Community School, the Blakeston School and the Norton School Humanities College to help raise attainment.

What else is been done to improve attainment of the pupils at these three schools?

In the long-term it is proposed that two new academies are formed. One would be built in Thornaby to replace Thornaby Community School and the other would be built in North Stockton to replace the Blakeston Schools and the Norton School Humanities College.

The Government introduced academies as a way to raise standards by raising aspirations and creating opportunities in disadvantaged communities.

Academies are all-ability, state funded schools. Academy sponsors can be from the public, private or voluntary sector with proven success in other fields which can be transferred to their schools in order to transform learning.

When will the schools close and the academies open?

The Thornaby Academy is expected to open in the existing Thornaby Community School building in September 2010 before moving to a new building at a later date.

Stockton Borough Council is expecting to receive approximately £150 million from the Government's Building Schools for the Future Programme and some of this money will be used to construct new, state-of-the-art buildings for both academies.

Construction on the first schools is anticipated to start in January 2011 and both academies are likely to be built towards the beginning of this programme.

Where can I find out more?

A high level summary of the National Challenge Plans for Thornaby Community School, the Blakeston School and the Norton School Humanities College is available to download below.

Further information about the National Challenge Scheme can be found at www.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalchallenge/