Pioneers of 'chain school' scheme announced

A SECONDARY school and two further education colleges in Yorkshire are among the first education providers in the country to be given the power to run chains of schools

The Outwood Grange family of schools, based in Wakefield, has become an accredited group and can now lead up to three schools while Hull and Bradford Colleges have become accredited school providers with powers to run up to two schools.

They will be announced by Gordon Brown and Children's Secretary Ed Balls today as the Government expands its plans for chain schools to include primaries.

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Mr Balls, Labour's Normanton MP, said: "This announcement is about putting the best school leaders at the heart of making our schools system great.

"The successful schools and organisations announced today are amongst the most outstanding school providers in the country.

"They have a track record in not only running just one excellent school but the ability to spread this excellence to other schools that need more support. That's why we're giving them this kitemark today, and encouraging more to apply. We want to see every part of the country covered by the programme.

"I am also delighted to announce that today we are extending the scheme to primary schools."

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The announcement on chain schools came as a report published today called for vocational education to be revamped and its teachers to be given more respect.

Sir Mike Tomlinson, a former chief inspector of schools, chaired the Skills Commission inquiry which found that teachers of vocational courses are considered to be "second best".