The government has announced a major expansion of its school improvement programme, aiming to give nearly 100,000 more pupils the support they need to succeed.
At the heart of this effort are the RISE teams – groups of expert advisers handpicked for their track record in raising standards. These teams are now nearly doubling their reach, working with 377 schools and directly benefiting more than 200,000 children. Their focus is on so-called “stuck schools” – those that have struggled for years with poor Ofsted ratings.
Alongside this, Ofsted has confirmed a big shift in the way schools are assessed. Instead of a single headline grade, parents will soon see new school report cards that provide a fuller picture, covering everything from behaviour and attendance to inclusion.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:
“Every child deserves a brilliant education – and that means a system that’s relentlessly focused on strong accountability that puts children first.
New school report cards will raise the bar for standards across the board, shining a light on what’s working and where change is needed. By providing a fuller picture of school performance – from attendance and behaviour to inclusion – we’re giving parents the transparency they deserve and schools the tools to improve.
From school inspection to new technology, to experts who have been there and done it – through our Plan for Change we will use every lever we can to boost the life chances of our children and ensure aspiration is not just the preserve of some, but the right of each and every young person, wherever they grow up”.
To help headteachers, the Department for Education is also launching a new online tool that lets schools compare their performance with similar schools and collaborate to share best practice. Testing begins this term, building on the success of the government’s AI-powered attendance reports already in use.
The numbers show why this support matters. In 2024, just 43% of pupils in schools targeted by RISE met expected standards in reading, writing and maths, compared to 62% nationally. Suspension and absence rates are also far higher in these schools – evidence of the challenges they face.
But there are early signs of progress. Astor Secondary School in Dover, one of the first to take part in RISE, says the programme has helped them strengthen assessments, refine their curriculum, and improve inclusive teaching for SEND pupils.
Lee Kane, headteacher at Astor Secondary School in Dover, said:
“We are really excited to be a part of RISE; it feels like a bit of an accolade. I think some might assume it is just another department initiative – a passing trend. But, in our view, it is absolutely not that.
Our involvement has seen us partnered with Mulberry Schools Trust and, together, we have established a working partnership focused on key fundamentals and on co-producing agreed initiatives and adaptations that will ensure sustainability beyond the programme.
It has provided the framework for us to share expertise, trial new strategies, and reflect on their impact in a genuinely collaborative way. Being part of RISE will help us create something enduring”.
Parents will also soon have access to new school profiles – an online one-stop-shop giving families clear, accessible information about their local school. Backed by 77% of consultation respondents, these profiles will cover everything from attendance to attainment, helping parents make informed choices.
The government has confirmed that poorly performing schools will continue to be converted into academies where needed, and with RISE in place, the number of interventions is expected to double compared with previous years.
These changes are part of a broader push to improve outcomes for children, including reforms to family services, expanded free school meals, and new measures to improve wellbeing and safety through the forthcoming Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill. Photo by Lucélia Ribeiro, Wikimedia commons.